I have these shoots popping up along the front of my property, technically in the nature strip I think. I’m not sure where they’re coming from and I’m wondering what is the best way to get rid of them. I’m concerned about poisoning them in case they’re root suckers or something like that and I end up killing the plant they’ve attached to. Sorry if that’s a silly/naive concern but I’m not a gardener. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions!
by Cleosmog
7 Comments
Looks like Bradford pear they are very invasive check if there is one nearby. looks like root suckers but could also be be seed as they spread by seed. Unsure though
I also think it looks like Bradford pear. It looks like they’re coming up in the gap between driveway and garden bed barrier? If thats the case, and you aren’t actually trying to grow anything there (now or in the near future) you could try pouring salt into the gaps they’re growing out of.
Salt won’t kill the tree they come from because it will have its roots in good soil elsewhere, but salt persists in the soil for ages, sometimes for years, so I would only use it if you’re certain you don’t want anything else growing there, and I’d be very careful not to get it in the garden bed.
*”Ornamental pears (such as Bradford or Capital pears) are notorious for producing suckers, which are vigorous shoots that grow from the roots or base of the tree. These often appear due to stress, improper planting depth, or damage, and they should be removed promptly to prevent them from overtaking the tree, as they will not produce the same desired foliage or form.”*
*”Key Facts on Ornamental Pear Suckering:
Cause: The rootstock is often a more aggressive pear variety that sends up shoots when the tree is stressed, damaged, or grafted too shallowly.Removal Method: Do not just mow or cut them, as they will regrow. It is best to dig down slightly and rip them off at the root to remove the dormant buds.”*
*”Timing: Prune or remove suckers during the dormant winter season to minimize regrowth.
Persistence: Once a pear starts suckering, it may continue to do so, requiring regular annual maintenance.”*
If left unchecked, these suckers can turn into a thicket around the base of the tree.
Looks like a Manchurian pear or crab apple, they are common street trees in some locations.
Unless you do have one in your garden or as a street tree, I doubt this is a sucker, rare to see a sucker spread much outside the canopy drip line of the main tree.
Dig down around the base of the larger one then put a spade or crowbar under it. If you pull it up and it doesn’t have any side roots at all, or is connected a root growing laterally then it’s a sucker from another trees root system and you should avoid poisoning it. just remove them manually ASAP when they spring up.
Snip the stems, put a drop of roundup on each.
If you don’t kill the source they will keep coming back.
Let us know how the roundup efficacy trial goes.
Trim them down to a few inches high. Cut into the remaining stump/sticks and spray into the cuts with round up. Cover with cling wrap and fix with a rubber band to stop roundup getting washed off or animals being exposed to the roundup. This should kill them off.
I did the same with a much bigger one after trying to manually remove it – my attempted manual removal didn’t work as it just threw up masses of aggressive suckers. Chopping off the suckers, spraying the open ends with round up and covering with cling wrap worked a treat.