Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Kill Cherry Tree Root Suckers
How to Kill Cherry Tree Root Suckers. Many types of cherry trees are known to produce suckers, such as chokecherries and Canadian red cherries. Suckers are not just unsightly, but they use nutrients and water that the cherry tree needs to thrive. Unfortunately, suckers are difficult to control; and while it's possible to stop or inhibit their...
Many types of cherry trees are known to produce suckers, such as chokecherries and Canadian red cherries. Suckers are not just unsightly, but they use nutrients and water that the cherry tree needs to thrive. Unfortunately, suckers are difficult to control; and while it's possible to stop or inhibit their growth, without constant attention, they will sprout again, or new ones will grow.
Things You'll Need
Pruning shears or hand saw
Napthaleneacetate (NAA)
Plastic sheeting
Mulch
Remove the cherry tree suckers before they reach 10 inches in length. Cut them off with pruning shears or a hand saw. Many grow from the ground so dig down a bit to cut so you are not left with little stumps that interfere with foot traffic.
Spray the point at which you cut the suckers with a chemical product made to prevent sucker growth, also known as a plant growth regulator, napthaleneacetate (NAA). This will help prevent regrowth in the same spot for three to five months.
Cover the area with thick plastic sheeting as an alternative to spraying the stumps with NAA. Then cover the plastic with 3 to 4 inches of mulch. This will help stop the suckers from growing, but more attention will need to be paid to watering the tree. Remove the plastic every week or two and water the tree with 1 to 2 inches of water. Remove the plastic in the fall when sucker growth is less of a problem. Replace the sheeting in the spring if necessary.
