Q&A - What are suckers and water sprouts on a tree?
Question:
What are suckers and water sprouts on a tree? How do you identify them?
Answer:
UT Assistant Professor of Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner tells the difference. Suckers are shoots that come up from the roots. These are often undesirable especially on a grafted plant where the root and the top are different plants. Water sprouts grow from branches. They often grow straight up. They are loosely attached and can break off easier in wind.
Related Resources
Prevent root suckers by keeping mowers, trimmers away from trees
So Long Suckers!
Pruning Mature Trees
What are suckers and water sprouts on a tree? How do you identify them?
Answer:
UT Assistant Professor of Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner tells the difference. Suckers are shoots that come up from the roots. These are often undesirable especially on a grafted plant where the root and the top are different plants. Water sprouts grow from branches. They often grow straight up. They are loosely attached and can break off easier in wind.
Related Resources
Prevent root suckers by keeping mowers, trimmers away from trees
So Long Suckers!
Pruning Mature Trees