A customer of mine recently called and she has a maple in the front yard and over the past few summers she has had a increase in shoots or little suckers coming up from the ground in about a 5-6ft circumfrence all around the tree. She said sometimes they get bad almost to the point that the tree looks like it has a bush around it. What causes this to happen? And is there anything that can be done to make this go away?
Info
- Thread starter dhuffnmu
- Start date
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
[ QUOTE ]
suckers coming up from the ground in about a 5-6ft circumfrence all around the tree. looks like it has a bush around it. What causes this to happen? And is there anything that can be done to make this go away?
[/ QUOTE ]
Why? Celebrate the bush! /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Cause, roots near surface? Clip the sprouts to their origin, add a little gravel to discourage resprouting, add mulch out to that 5-6 ft circle, add flowers.
suckers coming up from the ground in about a 5-6ft circumfrence all around the tree. looks like it has a bush around it. What causes this to happen? And is there anything that can be done to make this go away?
[/ QUOTE ]
Why? Celebrate the bush! /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Cause, roots near surface? Clip the sprouts to their origin, add a little gravel to discourage resprouting, add mulch out to that 5-6 ft circle, add flowers.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Has soil been added to the root plate?
Has severe pruning been done in the canopy?
Look for some stressor that might be causing the sprouts.
The best way to control sprouting is to cut them at their point of origin just like a branch collar. Do this in late spring after the growth has flushed and the leaves have haardened and turned dark green. Most of the energy stored near the sprout origin has been used to 'buy' the new growth. Cutting it off at this time 'bankrupts' the source root.
There are products like 'Sucker Stopper" that can be used to reduce root sprouts. It might take a few treatments to get the tree to turn around.
Guy's idea of using gravel is a great plan. Less soil to encourage growth and it could be easier to remove the next time you go in and cut/treat.
Has severe pruning been done in the canopy?
Look for some stressor that might be causing the sprouts.
The best way to control sprouting is to cut them at their point of origin just like a branch collar. Do this in late spring after the growth has flushed and the leaves have haardened and turned dark green. Most of the energy stored near the sprout origin has been used to 'buy' the new growth. Cutting it off at this time 'bankrupts' the source root.
There are products like 'Sucker Stopper" that can be used to reduce root sprouts. It might take a few treatments to get the tree to turn around.
Guy's idea of using gravel is a great plan. Less soil to encourage growth and it could be easier to remove the next time you go in and cut/treat.
