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Tree Suckers and Water Sprouts Taking Over
in Springfield, MO
Bradford pear trees are everywhere in Springfield neighborhoods built in the 1990s, and they are notorious for throwing up clusters of suckers and water sprouts after any significant pruning or storm damage. The heavy clay soil here and the wet springs we get push a lot of root energy into the base of the tree, and some of that energy comes out as suckers. Left alone, they turn into a thicket that makes the tree look bad and actually makes it weaker.
Quick Answer
Suckers grow from the roots at the base of a tree and water sprouts grow straight up from branches. Both are common in Springfield yards, especially on Bradford pears and crabapples that were heavily pruned or stressed. They look vigorous but they are actually weak and steal resources from the rest of the tree. Removing them by hand or with a clean cut close to the source keeps them from coming back as fast.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Clusters of thin straight shoots growing up from the base of the trunk
- Vertical shoots growing straight up from horizontal branches in the canopy
- The new shoots grow much faster than the rest of the tree
- Leaves on the sprouts look slightly different from the main canopy leaves
- The same area keeps sending up new growth every year after you cut it
- The base of the tree looks like a bush from a distance
Root Causes
What Causes Tree Suckers and Water Sprouts Taking Over?
Stress Response After Heavy Pruning
When a tree loses a large portion of its canopy at once, it panics in a way and sends energy into rapid new growth from dormant buds along the trunk and at the root collar. This happens often in Springfield after utility companies do aggressive line-clearance cuts and leave the tree heavily unbalanced.
The Fix
Sucker and Sprout Removal with Balanced Repruning
Removing the suckers and water sprouts by hand or with a flush cut slows the cycle. Following up with a more balanced shaping of the whole canopy reduces the stress that triggered the flush of new growth in the first place.
Grafted Rootstock Sending Up Growth
Many ornamental trees sold at nurseries in the Springfield area, including ornamental pears and some crabapples, are grafted onto a different rootstock. The rootstock below the graft union is often a wild or more vigorous species. When suckers come from below the graft line, they are actually a different tree trying to take over.
The Fix
Root Sucker Removal at the Source
These suckers need to be pulled or cut as close to the root they emerge from as possible. Cutting them above ground just delays them by a few weeks. If they are not managed consistently, the rootstock can eventually outgrow the ornamental top.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Stress Response After Heavy Pruning | Grafted Rootstock Sending Up Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sprouts grew heavily in the year after a big pruning job | ||
| Leaves on the suckers look different from the rest of the tree | ||
| Sprouts are coming from the canopy branches not the base | ||
| Suckers come from below the swollen bump near the base of the trunk | ||
| The tree was pruned hard by a utility crew in the past two years |
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