My dogwood is about 8 years old. Typically, I'll observe the tree after the flower petals have dropped to see which of the smaller woody branches aren't producing any foliage and which branches are eventually going to overlap each other so that I know which ones to prune in late fall. It's doing fine except that I've noticed that "suckers" have begun growing from the lower trunks of the tree. I want to cut them off so that it doesn't take any energy away from the top of the tree, but don't know if I should wait until late fall when the sap flow slows/stops, or if it's ok to clip them off now. They're not "woody" suckers yet. Just some green new growth w/leaves that has begun on the lower inside branches of the tree. Any advise would be helpful!
I cut these suckers off as soon as they appear at the bottom of my trees Jim. As you say they'll just take the energy away from the upper branches. :-D You won't harm the trees in any way as the 'wounds' created heal over very quickly.
