Shimpaku - small weak branches - remove or leave?

[somegeek]

I have a tree I am currently let grow without any pruning to develop the trunk. There are about a half dozen branches which are pretty bare and leaning towards yellowish(hanging on to a little green in color). I'm curious if branches like this do much for the tree to grow the trunk or if they should be removed? They've not developed any foliage in the last six months far as I can tell.

somegeek

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nip 'em out, they're probably last year's shoots. It will allow sunlight and air to get inside the tree. The air and sunlight gained is better for the tree than the minute contributions these yellow shoots can make at this point.

 

[mcpesq817]

It's a bit hard to tell from the pictures, but in my limited experience, branches like that will tend to stay weak in the future. So as Brian said, it's better to remove them to let in more sun and you'll hopefully get new stronger growth in its place.

 

[somegeek]

Great - will do - thanks for the replies.

somegeek