Often, vigorous shoots that occur around lignified (woody) branches, especially those below established branches, will cause the decline and eventual death of the established branch. Also, if you don't remove all but one branch growing at the same ht on a trunk or main branch, you'll have a heavy swelling there that can significantly affect eye appeal, so rubbing those adventitious buds off as they occur is a good practice, as is rubbing off or pruning any branch/bud as soon as you see it in any unwanted location.

If you're not too critical about eye appeal, handlebar branches (two branches at the same ht but on opposite sides of the trunk) are ok, but several branches all in close proximity to each other should be thinned. The exception to that is if you're intentionally growing a broom standard, which is sort of a straight trunk with all the branches radiating from very close to the same point - sort of like a lollipop.

Did you prune that tree hard recently?

Al

I don't mind eye appeal at all, but if it'll be detrimental to the tree I'll prune. I have not pruned anything at all from the tree save for the branch that died back when it had a bit of a soil problem recently. I noticed a lot of growth before I left for the weekend and figured I'd see what was up when I got back, and came back to what you see in the pics!

So, then... On the left side of the trunk, I should take off all of the new shoots, since they're close to the established branch?

And on the other side I will prune and leave the strongest and healthiest branch?

Sad day to be cutting off such nice new growth! But, if it's for the overall betterment, I will do it.

Lower branches in poor positions are often prone to diseases and infestation as the branches immediately above them shade them out and their metabolism slows, so they're not a good thing. Ideally, even if it's not the tree's natural growth habit, branches arranged more or less at 90* to each other with plenty of space between the branches and no branch growing immediately above another branch offers the best opportunity for good health and eye appeal.

Al

This is an interesting question and answer for me too as some of my trees have the same issue. Thanks for the information. I too will prune accordingly.

Cory

This is an interesting question and answer for me too as some of my trees have the same issue. Thanks for the information. I too will prune accordingly.

Cory