What Causes Suckers on Fruit Trees?

Stress

• Fruit trees planted too close together, neglected trees and trees suffering from other stress factors can yield one or many suckers. A tree straining to grow itself will send out suckers in an effort to survive. These can begin as small shoots sticking out from below the root stock, and the leaves or form look nothing like the upper part of the tree. Animals chewing on trees, low nutrient sources and even an accidental nick against the tree can cause suckers.

Pollarding & Topping

• A mostly outdated technique, pollarding was done to provide animal fodder or firewood kindling in many countries, especially where trees experienced a shortage. It is used in some places, leaving trees with knotty-ended branches. Clipping off the tops of trees or massive pruning will result in an eruption of watersprouts. These will shoot up all along the trunk and branches. Trees that get topped have great difficulty recovering and producing fruit. A primary rule when pruning is never remove more than one fourth of the tree, and with fruit trees judicious pruning will help it mature in proper form to yield well.

Improper Pruning

• Other types of improper pruning can occur when people try to grow fruit trees without learning about basic care. Initially, when the trees are young, limited pruning should occur. Training the trees can indeed be done, however, if the leader trunk is altered, or if crossing branches weren't originally cut out and later are removed, suckers can easily arise. Bad pruning or letting a tree get too mature before pruning at all can create lasting problems.

Proper Care

• Young trees require proper sun exposure, nutrient rich soil mixes with appropriate amendments, and good watering methods. Organic compost will make a great difference for fruit trees, as will avoiding toxic chemicals that can stress the tree and the ground around it. Pruning correctly begins with studying the shape of the tree and removing small suckers before they can take off, as well as removing crossing limbs, and diseased or dead branches. Trimming can be minimal otherwise, but annual maintenance is important in the care of fruit trees. Mulching helps conserve moisture, and harvesting rather than leaving fruit to rot and fall is ideal.