I have a BRT that I have pruned and am careful to prevent dieback. My question is about the branch nubs that are leftover. Can I remove them or groom them? Or is it best to leave them?
I have a BRT that I have pruned and am careful to prevent dieback. My question is about the branch nubs that are leftover. Can I remove them or groom them? Or is it best to leave them?
Yes, you leave the stub until its dies back to the previous node. Once it's dead, you can cut it back. You can tell it is dead because the color of the branch changes from that grey/green to an orange/brown.
If it's a stub where you'll be cutting back to the trunk really make sure it's dead. Cutting back a live branch to the trunk can cause dieback down the trunk.
Thank you for all the replies! This was very helpful and I will inspect to make sure they are certainly dead or leave them l, as a few are off of the main trunk.