Dead Tree Suckers - Cut out or not?

Question

I had a new Red Oak tree, 1" thick, die on me. This year several suckers started growing around the dead tree. Should I cut them out or just trim it down to one main one and let it grow? Will it grow to full size

Answer 1

Destroy the tree, and start with a new sapling. Here's why:

The suckers are not full trees; they are, in a sense, branches, and there will be problems with axial dominance later on. This means the full-grown "tree" will not be shaped like the parent tree, and will be an ugly specimen.

If you got your original tree from a reputable landscape provider, they will surely replace it.

Answer 2

My moms weeping willow died and a ninth of suckers came up she killed all but one now a year later and that sucker looks like and is as big as the tree that died

Answer 3

Tree Suckers

Answer 4

Choose the best looking sucker and let it grow. It will grow to be straight and a fine looking tree.

For example- In the 1950's much of the US was highgraded (most of the best trees were cut out of the forest and the junky trees were left. Many of these stumps soon sprouted (where term stump sprout comes from) These sprouted stumps grew into forked trees (nobody was there to remove excess sprouts). The forests have since rebounded and you can look at large old forked trees to see where it was cut before it sprouted (the solid tree at the base leading to a fork). These trees produced seed which resulted in more straight and fine trees being produced. You should keep yours because your root system is strong enough to sustain the suckers and is firmly rooted. A better chance of survival than a new tree. Good luck

Answer 5

Victory is right.. I'll elaborate just a bit more.

Suckers are referred to as (Epicormic Growth) basically, they are the original tree sending out new ''shoots''. *However* these ''shoots'' are not actually rooted as strongly as the original tree would have been, they grow off the stem, meaning that they are not as strong as they should be. If you were to cut them all off and leave a main leader to grow, the eventual tree will be susceptible to failing (falling over) due to its weak union.

I suggest replanting.

Hope i could shed a little more light on the matter..

Answer 6

You can cut them and leave one or two, but since they old one died on you....it might happen to the suckers themself. I suggest cutting it and unrooting it because suckers are impossible to get rid of unless you unroot the tree, or "gurdle" it. Maybe plant something that doesn't produce suckers next time. Like evergreen trees or certain Hardwoods.

Answer 7

yes it will grow to replace the one that died just pick the strait one and cut all the rest