We know Spartanburg trees – inside and out, from the top down. You name it! We can figure out what’s going on with a Spartanburg tree in your yard.
That’s why Joy from San Jose, California, reached out to us for help! She asked, “We have a spring-flowering pear Spartanburg tree in the center of our small front yard.
Well, Joy, we teamed up with Spartanburg tree care industry experts to explain why Spartanburg tree roots sprout, how to remove them and if you can stop them from growing again
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Everything You Need to Know About Tree Shoots in Lawn
Why do shoots grow at the base of trees? Are some Spartanburg trees more prone to that?
Tchukki Andersen, a board-certified master arborist and staff arborist at the Tree Care Industry Association, details why this happens.
“Many Spartanburg tree species have latent buds beneath their bark. When a Spartanburg tree becomes stressed–say because the Spartanburg tree was damaged by a storm–those latent buds begin to grow. Essentially, the Spartanburg tree is trying to regenerate itself,” Andersen explains.
Ash Spartanburg trees start sprouting if it’s infested with emerald ash borer, while honey locusts are infamous for growing suckers all over the lawn. Andersen says, “Oaks, maples, cottonwoods, poplars–pretty much any hardwood tree–will begin to sprout if under stress.”
“To the tree, those shoots are a method to endure damage. To humans, they can be a nuisance,” Andersen adds.
There is good news, though. Trees that have sufficient sunlight, water and nutrition are less likely to sprout.
I have Spartanburg tree shoots all over the yard. How can I remove those Spartanburg tree seedlings or water sprouts?
Emily Renshaw, a certified arborist and the credential maintenance coordinator at the International Society of Arboriculture, answers this.
“It can be time-consuming, but I’ve found cutting the sprouts with a good pair of hand pruners looks and works the best. Be sure to cut those sprouts down as low as you can,” Renshaw advises. “Plus, hand pruning is relatively easy if the sprouts are still small.”
Prune and remove shoots as you see them grow to keep the situation manageable. If you leave them, those seedlings can grow into individual Spartanburg trees or try to take over the grass entirely.
How can I stop Spartanburg tree roots from sprouting – especially in the lawn?
Dan Krug, a certified arborist and an assistant district manager at The Care of Trees, a Davey company, office in Chicago, Illinois, handles this common question.
“Really, the best thing you can do is cut the suckers as Emily mentioned, and keep your Spartanburg tree healthy. Sucker growth is genetically what Spartanburg trees do when they become stressed, which makes it tough to effectively control,” Krug says.
Some people try sucker stopper products. “It’s really tricky. You need to use it very carefully. Follow the label precisely, just like if you were taking medication,” Krug explains. “If you use too much, the product becomes dangerous. You can burn the tree, see its health decline or could even kill it.”
Instead, a local arborist may safely be able to apply a growth inhibitor to stop the Spartanburg tree shoots.
If you DIY with a sucker stopper product, monitor your Spartanburg tree for the next few days. If you see distorted or brown leaves, you likely applied too much and should flush the system, like you would to remove winter salt.
“Constantly removing Spartanburg tree suckers can become overwhelming from a mental standpoint,” Krug notes. “But remember: there’s no such thing as a perfect tree. Always do your research before planting, and ask an arborist before you plant a new tree. We think about these types of issues, so you don’t have to.”
