How do I get rid of those suckers that grow out of my dwarf apple. They are right at ground level. I'm always cutting them off, but they come right back. I'm sure they are sapping the tree's strength. Thanks.

-- Jeanne (Jcd51@webtv.net), August 20, 2001

Answers

keep cutting them off,, try a little below ground level

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 20, 2001.

If the ground has been piled up in any way, so that's it's now higher around the trunk than it was when the tree was planted, that could be encouraging the rootstock to put out suckers or shoots.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 21, 2001.

Do NOT CUT the suckers, try (I know its tough) but PULL them away and tear them.

-- A (aplouse@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Use them as rootstocks. Dwarf tree rootstocks are expensive. Let them grow and in witer take them uot with their roots. They can then be lined out for an year and they will be ready for grafting or budding. You could even sell them to a local nursery, I have started doing it from last year and have already sold some suckers just on taking themout. This is in India where ther is a shortage of clonal rootstock. Of corse our price i less than half dollar per plant. Let me know ehat stock you have. We may be able to work out something.

Surendra Kanwar

-- Surendra Mohan Kanwar (orchardresort@yahoo.com), February 19, 2002.