Aggressive Crepe Myrtle Suckers - Ask Extension
I have a very large older Crepe Myrtle in the front lawn of the house I am renting. Recently, it has been putting out suckers everywhere along the bas...
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Aggressive Crepe Myrtle Suckers #581396
Asked July 18, 2019, 3:48 PM EDT
I have a very large older Crepe Myrtle in the front lawn of the house I am renting. Recently, it has been putting out suckers everywhere along the base of the tree. Every time I trim them, I trim them as close to the tree base as I can, they come back and they double! I've tried covering the base of the tree with a ring of mulch, it did not help. Every time I cut them back, they get worse. Also please note, I can not drastically alter the tree because this is a rental property.
Any tips on why this is happening and how to stop them? Thanks so much!!
Any tips on why this is happening and how to stop them? Thanks so much!!
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Suckers develop on a tree in response to injury. Do you top your crapemyrtle trees or prune the top growth aggressively? This type of wounding can cause suckering around the base. See more information here: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430-451/430-451_pdf.pdf
Trees under stress or injury are prone to excessive suckering, so you may continue to see these shoots unless stressor can be identified and corrected. Re-suckering can sometimes be suppressed by applying naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after pruning, but repeatedly topping or pruning back the plant can stimulate suckering.
Christa
Trees under stress or injury are prone to excessive suckering, so you may continue to see these shoots unless stressor can be identified and corrected. Re-suckering can sometimes be suppressed by applying naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after pruning, but repeatedly topping or pruning back the plant can stimulate suckering.
Christa
Hi Christa, I will look into NAA, thank you for the tip!
The tree has not been cut or pruned, I’ve looked for evidence of stressors or injury, but nothing is standing out to me. Here are some photos, maybe you will see something I can’t!
Thanks again,
Alesha
The tree has not been cut or pruned, I’ve looked for evidence of stressors or injury, but nothing is standing out to me. Here are some photos, maybe you will see something I can’t!
Thanks again,
Alesha
Hi Christa, I will look into NAA, thank you for the tip!
The tree has not been cut or pruned, I’ve looked for evidence of stressors or injury, but nothing is standing out to me. Here are some photos, maybe you will see something I can’t!
Thanks again,
Alesha
The tree has not been cut or pruned, I’ve looked for evidence of stressors or injury, but nothing is standing out to me. Here are some photos, maybe you will see something I can’t!
Thanks again,
Alesha
It is not unusual for flowering plants such as crape myrtles to produce suckers. All you can do is prune the suckers back to the base. This will most likely be an annual occurrence. The tree looks pretty good.
Marian
Marian
