Question
Hi, Are the top VERTICAL shoots or branches growing from our Maple, Birch and Fruit Trees harmful to the rest of the tree?  Unsure what to do with these branches as they are a bit unsightly and I fear they are "sucking" the life from other parts of the tree.  The defn. of a sucker seems to stem from a root system, however as a child my neighbor who pruned his own trees and ours said how unhealthy these can be for a tree.  My husband, the gardener, feels they will help the tree grow upright, rather than fuller and has never known these Straight VERTICAL branches to be something that is problematic...   YUCKY!!!  Please help if you are able, ~Kate

Answer
Sprouts (Suckers) growing from the base of a tree trunk (up to two feet from the ground) should be cut. Sprouts that are growing in the upper parts of the tree should be left growing. They will become part of the trees crown with age. I hope this is what you are asking.