Yamadori root suckers

[keithl]

Collected what I think is a winterberry from my yard in April that was going to be replaced with another shrub. After getting it in a grow pot, It has put out plenty of nice long shoots all over the trunk, but also has been putting out long sucker shoots from the roots. There are about 10 to them at the moment and I am guessing more are coming. The biggest suckers have grown to about 20" with lots of leaves. I am wondering if I should let these grow to keep fueling the root recovery until next year? Or should I remove them now because they are diverting energy from the actual tree I want to keep in the future?

 

[BrianBay9]

I tend not to cut anything during the first growing season after collecting - assume more green means faster root recover.

 

[Shibui]

For me it depends where the suckers are coming from and how big they get.
Suckers coming from roots well away from the trunk are probably not helping the trunk. In extreme circumstances vigorous suckers can shade out and kill the original trunk. Did you get a good look at the roots when you dug the tree? Often roots that are disconnected from the parent tree will sprout (root cuttings) but they are obviously not helping the tree if not connected.

Suckers coming from the base of the trunk are feeding the roots but the bigger they get the bigger the scars when they are eventually removed. Leave some of those but manage strength to make sure they do not cause long term problems.

When vigorous species grow well after collection it is OK to begin trimming to manage that growth. Vigorous growth means the roots are well re-established.

 

[keithl]

Pretty sure they are not coming from the base of the trunk, they range about 2-6" away from the trunk. I did completely bare root and root pruned when I collected so I am pretty certain everything left is connected to the tree. There werent that many fine feeder roots, but a few more than most other trees I have collected. Currently the suckers are about pencil thick

 

[Cajunrider]

For me it depends where the suckers are coming from and how big they get.
Suckers coming from roots well away from the trunk are probably not helping the trunk. In extreme circumstances vigorous suckers can shade out and kill the original trunk. Did you get a good look at the roots when you dug the tree? Often roots that are disconnected from the parent tree will sprout (root cuttings) but they are obviously not helping the tree if not connected.

Suckers coming from the base of the trunk are feeding the roots but the bigger they get the bigger the scars when they are eventually removed. Leave some of those but manage strength to make sure they do not cause long term problems.

When vigorous species grow well after collection it is OK to begin trimming to manage that growth. Vigorous growth means the roots are well re-established.

Totally agree. When the main tree is growing well, I see no reason to keep the suckers. I only keep the suckers when the main tree is struggling and I want everything available to collect energy from the sun to fuel growth.

 

[Jrmcmich]

I had recently cut all suckers off my collected trees as well. I kept them initially to help with roots but trees seem to be ok so cut them off couple weeks ago

 

[Shibui]

Pretty sure they are not coming from the base of the trunk, they range about 2-6" away from the trunk. I did completely bare root and root pruned when I collected so I am pretty certain everything left is connected to the tree.

Some species are just really prone to producing root suckers. The only option seems to be to keep cutting (or grow a clump style bonsai)

 

[keithl]

Some species are just really prone to producing root suckers. The only option seems to be to keep cutting (or grow a clump style bonsai)

Yeah, just thought it was strange because it has not done this in the ground the previous 8 years we have had it before digging it out. Obviously ground is different than pot, but figured if it didn't send out root suckers in the ground, it normally wouldn't in the pot either.

 

[Shibui]

Yeah, just thought it was strange because it has not done this in the ground the previous 8 years we have had it before digging it out. Obviously ground is different than pot, but figured if it didn't send out root suckers in the ground, it normally wouldn't in the pot either.

Curiouser and curiouser.
My guess is some root damage during the transplant but possibly related to the trunk chop? Has anyone ever had this happen after a trunk chop while not disturbing the roots?

 

[Cajunrider]

Curiouser and curiouser.
My guess is some root damage during the transplant but possibly related to the trunk chop? Has anyone ever had this happen after a trunk chop while not disturbing the roots?

My Ilex vomitoria and crepe myrtles with established roots will sprout numerous root suckers after a drastic trunk chop. I think the trees just naturally want to reestablish the top in anyway they can for survival.