trim lower branches yes or no?

Hey just wondering if you guys can help me with some advice? I have a 5'x5' DWC i made myself that holds 25 plants each plant is in a 3'' net pot w/3'' rockwool. ive been growing for quite some time but always just let the plants grow..I have 2 600 watt hps lights above so lots of light per sq/ft, no heat issues and lights can be raised and lowered..I have recently been told that trimming the lower branches would increase my overall yields by focussing the plants growth to the higher branches=buds. Is this true? if so when should i trim the branches? the plants usually get 1 week of veg before going into flower, so do i trim the branches day 1 of flower or wile still in veg?? Also been reading a thead on defoilating plants dont know if its right or wrong..normally during flower i only trim off lower yellowing leaves or big fan leaves that are full grown just to get light to anything below them..i would say i normally trim 1 or 2 leaves off each plant every day..my plants are not topped and normally finish around 3-3and1/2 feet tall.. should i be trimming more leaves every day or bascally trim everything off the plant 1 or 2 weeks before harvest?? or am i doing it the right way now??if you think i should cut off lower branches, how much and when...thanks for any help

I look at my plant about 10 days after flip to see what's what. Think about how its going to grow, how well it's lit through the canopy and where it's going to develop and where it's going to just stay puny....lower/smaller branches that won't amount to much are trimmed off in my garden.

As Quispp said, its very situational. If yu light can penetrate deep enugh, then no reason to trim. Yu cud also consider only harvesting half of the plant and then letting the bottom half flower longer and mature.
As far as excessive defoliation, id say yur best bet is trial and error. If yur using clones from a mom (same plant everytime) yu cud easily experiment on a few plants. Removing all or only half the fans.

So..it all depends. But had i said only that, id look dumb haha.
Theres a wealth of knowledge on these topics. Google should be your best friend and secret lover by now.

Sir KK

I prune my plants. I use a screen in my closet, and all the smaller branches get cut off.
No wasted energy on those ones, and better air circulation, and easier to water.

thanks for the replies, this crop is too late to trim, maybe on the next 1 ill try it on a couple plants and see the dif.

vostok said:

2x 600w hps lights ..?
bo don't defoliate
you have the grunt
to bring in a great crop

to my blog:
https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/de-leaf-or-not.30156/
​

Click to expand...

seen your blog, thanks for it, ive decided to stick with pulling lower yellow leaves and large fans that have already served their purpose,no defoiling however i might try trimming a couple lower buds on a plant or 2 just to see any diff,,thanks for the reply