Hello everyone - new to the forum! We just purchased our first citrus -- a tango manderin tangerine semi-dwarf! Our tree is about 4-5 feet tall, and most of the branches are growing straight up, except for 3 branches growing toward the bottom of the trunk that stick straight out. They have a bunch of flowers, as well as some ripened fruit on them, but I'm wondering if these branches are suckers? Should we prune them off before we plant the tree in the ground? Or will that damage the tree? The branches are about 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter. Btw it's about one foot from the soil to the start of the upward facing branches, so the "suckers' (if that's what they are) are anywhere from 5-8" up the trunk.

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