"Garrapata" wrote in message
...

Question: Should I remove the branch, and if I do, how close to the trunk
of
the tree should I cut it?

If you do decide to remove the branch read this
http://www.plantamnesty.org/6024_pag...bkLimbing.html
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What a coinkydink... I spent most of today removing lower limbs from some
fairly large trees; three maples, two rather large cedars, and a good sized
white birch... because they had grown so large that their weight made those
limbs droop too low for me to drive my tractor under. And perfect timing, I
cut those limbs into useful lengths to keep the corrogated in my garden from
blowing away.

Actually that information at that web site is incorrect. When a tree limb
is removed the top of the cut should start out away from the trunk (about an
inch out from the limb collar) and slant inward so an "eave" is created,
this so that when it rains water drips from from the tip of the top lip and
not run down over the cut, and so snow does not accumulate on the cut
surface, or there will be a much greater opportunity for water to enter the
trunk, for decay to ensue inside the trunk and in winter that water will
freeze and split the trunk, in fact the kind of cut shown at that web site
actually guarantees eventual premature loss of the tree. And limb cuts heal
far quicker from the bottom up (up is how plants grow if anyone has
noticed). When limbing a tree the bottom of the cut should be as flush with
the trunk as is practical but still outside the limb collar. When limbing a
tree the cut should be made so that the cut surface remains as dry as
possible... the eave created is for exactly the same purpose houses are
built with eaves, so the exterior walls remain dry and don't rot. Just
about everyone does it wrong (back asswards)... even professional arborists
don't know how to properly limb a tree... that's because common sense cannot
be taught. I'm positive most of you, the very next time you limb a tree
will have forgotten, or it never registered, and will do it back assward.