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suckers

donaldgeorge's picture

suckers (post #12717)

donaldgeorge on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:13
in

is there a product that will kill suckers on an elm tree without damaging the tree?


Thanks, Don

-A +A
KimmSr's picture

(post #12717, reply #1 of 6)

by KimmSr in reply to donaldgeorge [original] on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:34

Nope. Any product you could apply to the suckers to kill them would get into the tree and, if not kill it, do great harm to that tree. The best way to control suckers is to prune them off.

West central Michigan along the lake shore


A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.

West central Michigan along the lake shore

A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.

donaldgeorge's picture

(post #12717, reply #6 of 6)

by donaldgeorge in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 09:17

Thanks. And yes it is! the previous owners never bothered to


take care of it.


Your's,  Don

jeana's picture

(post #12717, reply #2 of 6)

by jeana in reply to donaldgeorge [original] on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 16:40

If they're really tender, you can try vinegar or you can paint them with bleach. Both kill vegetation from contact and are not systemic. It won't prevent new suckers from developing, though. I have a friend whose chemist son makes triple concentrated vinegar for her. She's a big chemical user and she LOVES this stuff.

Jeana Never try to baptize a cat.
BeeJay's picture

(post #12717, reply #4 of 6)

by BeeJay in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:37

Yeah.  Glacial acetic acid.  Diluted, of course.  How I miss not having a lab available.


BJ


Gardening, cooking and woodworking in South'n Murlyn'
Gardening, cooking and woodworking in South'n Murlyn'
jeana's picture

(post #12717, reply #5 of 6)

by jeana in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 02:44

Why do you need a lab? Apparently, you can blow things up without one.

Jeana Never try to baptize a cat.
veronica320's picture

(post #12717, reply #3 of 6)

by veronica320 in reply to donaldgeorge [original] on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 17:13

Aside from pruners, don't know. My crabapples busily send up suckers and I just cut them for the vase when they're tall enough, along with other prunings.

BUT, there is a new product on the market called Sucker Stopper. Supposedly, you spray it on the tree early in the season and it prevents the blasted things from forming. Chemicals, obviously, but maybe your situation is too large-scale to manage otherwise. Just throwing it out there....Good luck.


Edited 8/8/2008 1:32 pm by veronica320