Removal of sucker from base of fruit tree

All fruit trees are grafted for reasons I have mentioned, basically to control the health and size of the apple, pear, plum or whatever. Plum rootstocks in particular may send up growths from below ground which are known as suckers. These are unwanted and must be removed, the best time to do it is as soon as you see them. Its an unsophisticated operation, use secateurs for thinner growths and a saw for thicker growths.

Be careful not to damage your high quality pruning equipment on soil and stones. Ideally, use a cheap or worn out secateurs or saw. You don't want to contaminate the blade, especially of a saw (where debris may lodge betweeen the teeth), with soil organisms and then introduce them into a pruning cut. These secateurs were sterilised with methylated spirits before being used for any further pruning operations, ideally i would have had a cheap pair on me for 'dirty' pruning.

Like I said, if you dig up a sucker with some roots and plant it out, it will be a clone of the rootstock and you can graft on to it.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• root
• sucker
• plum
• pruning
• fruitwise
• stephen
• hayes

[andrewnorris1]

Curiously, I was watching something else and this video was recommended. Strange, because it actually answers a question I had going around in my mind concerning our plums. Great stuff as always.

[toobmes]

Thanks, Stephen,

Great idea to root a sucker to produce your own rootstock....a free tree!

[MadBadVoodo]

Thanks 4 the vid Stephen!!

Five Stars!!