WHEN I WORKED FOR SEVERAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF TREES.

THIS IS WHAT WAS FIGURED OUT AS FAR AS THOSE BRANCHES KNOW AS (SUCKERS) THAT GROW NEAR THE BASE OF A TREE AND IF NOT REMOVEDWILL AFFECT THE UPPER TREE’S GROWTH ROBING THE UPPER PART OF THE TREE OF WATER, NUTRIENTS, AND ENERGY. TAKING IT AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE TREE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO STUNTED GROWTH, REDUCED FRUIT AND FLOWER PRODUCTION, AND WEAKEN THE TREE.

THEY OFTEN GROW BECAUSE OF STRESS, AND CAN HARM THE HEALTH OF THE TREE IF THEY AREN’T CONTROLLED.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT SUCKERS FROM HARMING THE TREE? AS SOON AS YOU NOTICE THEM, PRUNE THEM OFF AT THE POINT WHERE THEY’RE COMIMG OUT OF THE BASE OF THE TREE TO PREVENT THEM FROM TAKING ENERGY AND NUTRIENT FROM THE MAIN TREE.

AFFECTING THE TREES GROWTH: THE MAIN TREE’S GROWTH CAN BECOME STUNTED OR SLOWED OVER TIME DUE TO THE DIVERSION OF ENERGY.

SUCKERS CAN MAKE A TREE LOOK TOUGH AND OVERGROWN. IF LEFT TO GROW, THEY CAN ALSO INTERFERE WITH THE TREE’S HEALTH, LEADING TO A WEAK OR UNBALANCED FORM MORE VULNERABLE TO WIND DAMAGE OR OTHER PHYSICAL STRESS.