Limbed up trees with conical shapes that would otherwise branch to the ground appear to be floating or perched after the bottom is removed. With the comparative minority of specimens that are left with their visually anchoring basal skirts intact being far more elegant and impressive. And when disease and pest susceptible conifers like spruces and true firs have thin or partially browning lower branch areas what these often need is a spray program. Rather than scalping. There is a persisting shared characteristic called The Savannah Mentality based in the human species having arisen in African parklands that makes it so that there is a tendency to try and make private and public outdoor spaces consist to a large extent of lawns occupied by a scattering of trees with elevated crowns. With for some reason rose family flowering and fruit trees in particular being subjected to the emulation of the parasol acacias of the savannah to the extent that stripping, topping and salad bowl haircuts are commonplace with this group.

Lily, can you provide a photo of where this wickedly thorny branch is emanating from? The front normal branch is obscuring where the thorny branch is coming from. We are all thinking that you've possibly got a (massive) rootstock sucker, but we can't tell unless you can give us a photo of where this branch starts exactly. If it is emanating from below the graft union, it is rootstock, and should be removed. Patty S.

I'm perhaps a bit more manipulative and daring? I would not remove the branch, but would have a fun time holding it down, taking off some of the lower 'sucker' leaves. I have a few that size and i have copper wire, through bits of clear tubing where it contacts the stems, holding branches in sweeping forms in directions i want. Attached to heavy rocks. One has four holds. Three branches are sweeping left and one i have water falling forward. I remove all leaf forms directly on stems, about the lower third of the overall plant. Such a flexible and satisfying plant to shape...the earlier the better. They seem to like it. Just my opinion. Sagging stem? I would roll it forward and twist it in a half circle forward and around to the left. Tied and held by stake or two. (i've never kept one in a pot) Is it common to keep JM's in nursery pots for long? Just does not look natural or very organic to their obvious need to be connected to the soil and surrounding green.

Thank you so much for your inputs. I did not cut off the entire branch, but I got rid of a few smaller ones arising from it. For the others that are curling back in towards the body, I am going to roll soft steel wire around the joints and point them outwards (kind of what you do with bonsais). Would you guys be willing to take a look at my other thread? It has more pictures: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3066108/worried-about-my-citrus