March
2006
By
B. Rosie Lerner
Extension Consumer Horticulturist
Purdue University
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So Long Suckers!
Some landscape plants produce vigorous, upright stems that become troublesome
as they out compete better-formed branches and shade out the rest of the
plant. These remarkably fast growing upright stems are called "suckers"
if they come from the root system, and "watersprouts" if they
originate from other stems.
Ornamental crabapples are among the most notorious producers of these
unwanted stems, but many other trees and shrubs can be afflicted, including
contorted filbert, peach, apple and dogwoods.
While there are a few landscape plants that are supposed to have very
upright habits, in most plants, this upright growth results in a weak
architecture, in addition to causing overcrowding. Limbs with narrow branch
angles are more prone to internal decay and breakage during storms.
Both suckers and watersprouts can and should be removed any time they
occur, and it is often easier to see their architecture during the dormant
season. The earlier these vigorous shoots are removed, the better, so
don't feel you must wait until winter. The succulent growth put on by
suckers and watersprouts is often susceptible to attack by fungal pathogens,
as well as sap-sucking insects, such as aphids. Keeping after these nuisance
stems can be annoying, but better now than after several years of wood
being laid down!
Suckers should be removed at or just below the soil line using sharp pruning
shears. Watersprouts should be pruned back to their point of origin, avoiding
injury to the remaining branch but also being careful to not leave a stub.
If removed when they are very young, watersprouts can often be rubbed
off with your gloved thumb, making summer a good time to say, "So
long, suckers!"
Purdue University photo by B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer
Horticulture Specialist
3-2-06
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