Suckers at base of crab apple tree

General tips / questions on seeding & planting

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PLUMPUDDING
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Has anyone any advice on the best way to remove suckers without killing the tree? Small Floribunda crab apple - about 15 years old.

When it first started sending them out I tore them off as far down as I could get as advised in all the books. It sent more out so I just chopped them off with the secateurs. There are now a lot more. Last year I painted them with herbicide when they sent leaves out which seemed to stop them a bit. I was thinking of dosing them with something stronger. Any suggestions? It is a nice umbrella shaped smallish tree that the birds like sitting in on their way to the bird table.
tigerburnie
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No expert, but surely anything stronger might damage/kill the main plant. Is this a grafted tree?
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
PLUMPUDDING
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No it's on it's own roots, that's why I'm afraid I might kill it, but it looks a mess with all the suckers. I suppose I could try something stronger and replace it if it dies.
tigerburnie
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Anything chemical will go into the roots and kill the plant, I take it you would like a "standard" plant and it is not having any of it. I know there are more than one species of Malus, maybe have a search around and see if there's one that is less shrub and more tree.
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peter
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Do hope you're not using the crab apples for culinary purposes. :?
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PLUMPUDDING
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No Peter, purely ornamental.
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PLUMPUDDING
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Sorry it's a rubbish photo but it was a bit dark. I think it shows the suckers I want to get rid of.
Westi
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I'd just keep cutting them off. Eventually you must weaken them & they will lessen in number. Nice looking tree & huge bird feeder! I get these around the trunk of my fruit trees under the graft & cut them low as possible, maybe need to do it twice a year. You do get a little jumble of knitted branches at the bottom left but I quite like the look & probably a good habitat for something.
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