sucker stopper

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Sofonisba Questa, NM(Zone 5b) Aug 17, 2006

Anybody know where I can get a bottle of sucker stopper for less than $30? I can't seem to find it anywhere. Otherwise, can you help me control the suckers that grow at the base of my crabapple tree?

Thanks in advance!
Sofie

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CoreHHI Bluffton, SC(Zone 9a) Aug 17, 2006

Clip clip. That's what I would do.

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Sofonisba Questa, NM(Zone 5b) Aug 17, 2006

And they don't come back? The tree hasn't grown at all in the branches, but the suckers grow like weeds. Wish the top would grow faster and cover up my neighbor's messy yard.

sofie

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CoreHHI Bluffton, SC(Zone 9a) Aug 17, 2006

They'll probably come back but just clip those off, it doesn't take long and maybe do it one a year.

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Sofonisba Questa, NM(Zone 5b) Aug 17, 2006

Okay, thanks!

Sofie

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snapple45 Holland, OH(Zone 5b) Aug 17, 2006

I have a Malus sargenti "Tina". Once or occaisionally twice a year I dig down with my fingers to the very root source of the suckers and pull them away from the root . Clipping actually encourages more suckers. Careful digging wont do any serious harm. I seldom get more than one to three suckers in a season. Don't be afraid to just get in there and get em out. You will actually be helping the tree.

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kandlmidd Presque Isle, WI(Zone 3b) Aug 17, 2006

Are not these fancy "named" crabs grafted on much more agressively growing root stock? I know of no way to remove them, aside from Snap's example, without harming that "cooperative" arrangement. Ken

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snapple45 Holland, OH(Zone 5b) Aug 18, 2006

kandlmidd, you are absolutely correct. These are grafts. Various rootstocks are used depending on the cultivar. While some understock is more agressive in suckering than others, the response to clipping is universal to all malus rootstock. This comes from an aquaintance whose family owned and operated an apple orchard and a small retail nursery. Dig and pull away, don't clip. The number of suckers will reduce over time.

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CoreHHI Bluffton, SC(Zone 9a) Aug 18, 2006

Good info, I have this problem with my apple trees. I try digging down a little and pulling the suckers away.

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Sofonisba Questa, NM(Zone 5b) Aug 19, 2006

Thank you very much Snapple. I had already clipped them, but I'm sure they'll grow back, and when they do, I'll dig and pull away.

sofie

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UUallace Cincinnati, OH Aug 19, 2006

snapple45
I love your tree. Used to have one. It is not a real crabapple unless it is trashy. Cardinals eating the berries in winter is a pretty sight.
Larry

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