Do you have any suggestions to minimize root suckers popping up around the base of a flowering crab apple tree? - Ask Extension
Multiple suckers keep emerging from the ground/roots of a flowering crab tree. Is there a way to minimize this occurrence? It seems when you trim one ...
Knowledgebase
Do you have any suggestions to minimize root suckers popping up around the base of a flowering crab apple tree? #867046
Asked May 04, 2024, 6:53 PM EDT
Multiple suckers keep emerging from the ground/roots of a flowering crab tree. Is there a way to minimize this occurrence? It seems when you trim one off, more emerge!
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
To minimize root suckers around the base of a flowering crab apple tree, you can employ both cultural and chemical controls:
Cultural Controls:
Prune Suckers Early: Remove suckers with hand pruners as soon as they appear from their point of origin. This often requires pulling back a little soil to find the base and clip it off while still less than 6 to 12 inches in length.
Manage Stress: Damage to the base of the tree or the roots can promote the development of suckers. Ensure the tree is not stressed by environmental factors or physical damage.
Regular Maintenance: Regular pruning of suckers throughout the growing season as they appear is the best way to keep them well-managed.
The above information is at this link:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
Chemical Controls:
Growth Regulators: There are products available that claim to prevent suckers from growing, typically a specific formulation of a synthetic growth hormone (usually NAA) or a contact herbicide. However, there has been little research on the effectiveness of these products, and they may not eliminate suckers completely and have the potential to damage the parent plant.
Avoid Herbicides: Never use herbicides to treat or destroy suckers. An application of any herbicide (contact or systemic) to the suckers is likely to damage or kill the tree.
The above information is at this link:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
It’s important to note that trees prone to sucker formation, like crabapples, will always tend to produce suckers. The key is regular maintenance to manage them effectively and keep the tree healthy and attractive. For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided by educational institutions such as Iowa State University, Kansas State University, and Utah State University at these links:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF875.pdf
https://extension.usu.edu/productionhort/research/managing-suckers-around-fruit-trees
I hope this helps
To minimize root suckers around the base of a flowering crab apple tree, you can employ both cultural and chemical controls:
Cultural Controls:
Prune Suckers Early: Remove suckers with hand pruners as soon as they appear from their point of origin. This often requires pulling back a little soil to find the base and clip it off while still less than 6 to 12 inches in length.
Manage Stress: Damage to the base of the tree or the roots can promote the development of suckers. Ensure the tree is not stressed by environmental factors or physical damage.
Regular Maintenance: Regular pruning of suckers throughout the growing season as they appear is the best way to keep them well-managed.
The above information is at this link:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
Chemical Controls:
Growth Regulators: There are products available that claim to prevent suckers from growing, typically a specific formulation of a synthetic growth hormone (usually NAA) or a contact herbicide. However, there has been little research on the effectiveness of these products, and they may not eliminate suckers completely and have the potential to damage the parent plant.
Avoid Herbicides: Never use herbicides to treat or destroy suckers. An application of any herbicide (contact or systemic) to the suckers is likely to damage or kill the tree.
The above information is at this link:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
It’s important to note that trees prone to sucker formation, like crabapples, will always tend to produce suckers. The key is regular maintenance to manage them effectively and keep the tree healthy and attractive. For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided by educational institutions such as Iowa State University, Kansas State University, and Utah State University at these links:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF875.pdf
https://extension.usu.edu/productionhort/research/managing-suckers-around-fruit-trees
I hope this helps
