Best time to cut lower growth

Hey all, just curious as to when most people like to cut off the lower branches/popcorn nugs that don't get much light due to the top canopy. Has anyone noticed a difference if they decided to trim before flower vs after?

Also, if you put a few CFL's around the lower growth, is it worth keeping them? Or even with some CFL's its still not worth the plant directing nutrients to the lower buds when it could be going to the top nugs?

Thanks!

IMHO it isn't worth trying to light the undercarriage unless maybe you are doing just one or two plants and can get the CFLs up in the close to the budsites.

I trim once when my plants get put into 12/12 then once more roughly 2 weeks in. This is for 18 inch SOG plants... with larger plants you'd obviously want to trim more than 2 times.

about a week into flower when I can see what is going to form the main bud and cut lower shoots off

Lower growth is hormonal change that makes them not get big. Just cut them before the plant makes it big push in size starting week 4. Also take the big fan leaves that cover other bud sites.