how to prevent these?
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18129
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: how to prevent these?
You don't; those are suckers off the roots. The only thing you can do is cut them.
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: June 2nd, 2010, 12:44 pm
- Location: Zone 6a
- Grass Type: Front: KBG Back: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: how to prevent these?
+1 Morph
I had four Bradford Pears when I lived in NC and I was cutting the suckers more often than I cut the grass!
I had four Bradford Pears when I lived in NC and I was cutting the suckers more often than I cut the grass!
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: May 11th, 2009, 12:49 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Grass Type: KBG (Midnight II, Moonlight & Bedazzled)
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: how to prevent these?
Great!
Will a KBG mix do well in that area?
I haven't renovated the back of my house.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
Will a KBG mix do well in that area?
I haven't renovated the back of my house.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18129
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: how to prevent these?
Sorry for the negative answer, but I've never found anything that works. Even cutting down the tree doesn't stop the durned things, they still sprout for a year or so until the roots finally die. For that reason, among so many others, I don't use Bradfords. They're just not very good trees.
KBG should do fine in that area. Bradfords don't have a wide spread or a very tight canopy--my KBG does just fine underneath a Cleveland pear, which has a wider spread and denser canopy.
KBG should do fine in that area. Bradfords don't have a wide spread or a very tight canopy--my KBG does just fine underneath a Cleveland pear, which has a wider spread and denser canopy.
-
- Posts: 3871
- Joined: January 3rd, 2009, 2:28 am
- Location: Utah (Wasatch Front)
- Grass Type: Western, Streambank, Crested wheatgrass in front (with blue grama added in the heckstrips), sheep fescue in back; strawberry clovetr in both
- Lawn Size: 3000-5000
- Level: Experienced
Re: how to prevent these?
I don't think Bradford pears grow around here, but I hear about them sometimes when people discuss aspens ("In the east, they have bradford pears, we have aspens). I don't know if they'd react the same, but something I heard on a radio show was that if you cut down an aspen, you'll actually increase the sucker production because it's sort of a self defense mechanism. The suggestion was to make several cuts around the trunk at a slight downward angle and carefully pour glyphosate in those cuts (so you don't kill the lawn, just the tree). The tree will take in the glyphosate and translocate to the roots. Repeat this as often as necessary until the tree is dead and ONLY when it is completely dead should you cut it down.MorpheusPA wrote:Sorry for the negative answer, but I've never found anything that works. Even cutting down the tree doesn't stop the durned things, they still sprout for a year or so until the roots finally die. For that reason, among so many others, I don't use Bradfords. They're just not very good trees.
KBG should do fine in that area. Bradfords don't have a wide spread or a very tight canopy--my KBG does just fine underneath a Cleveland pear, which has a wider spread and denser canopy.
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18129
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: how to prevent these?
I never thought about that, but it makes perfect sense. Dead roots aren't going to send suckers.
- clay&crabgrass
- Posts: 1628
- Joined: June 30th, 2009, 8:57 pm
- Location: none
- Grass Type: none
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: how to prevent these?
great back yard. lost the neighbors to the rear with the tree line. don't change a thing. well, maybe some bird feeders.
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18129
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: how to prevent these?
Agreed with C&C...it's a nice tree and a beautiful back yard. Bradfords have short lifespans and tend to break badly in ice storms or very heavy wind, ultimately killing the tree. But if you treat it well, there's no reason you can't get 20 years out of the tree easily.
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: May 11th, 2009, 12:49 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Grass Type: KBG (Midnight II, Moonlight & Bedazzled)
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: how to prevent these?
thanks!
I don't intend to kill the tree, I just wanted to know what my options are for the suckers. Looks like I don't have any options! haha.
behind where the swingset is, there are a lot of small plants that the previous owner plants. What a pain maintaining it is because I have to cut the dried leaves out every spring. I will post a picture later.
I don't intend to kill the tree, I just wanted to know what my options are for the suckers. Looks like I don't have any options! haha.
behind where the swingset is, there are a lot of small plants that the previous owner plants. What a pain maintaining it is because I have to cut the dried leaves out every spring. I will post a picture later.
-
- Posts: 3871
- Joined: January 3rd, 2009, 2:28 am
- Location: Utah (Wasatch Front)
- Grass Type: Western, Streambank, Crested wheatgrass in front (with blue grama added in the heckstrips), sheep fescue in back; strawberry clovetr in both
- Lawn Size: 3000-5000
- Level: Experienced
Re: how to prevent these?
If you don't want to kill the tree, your options on the suckers are to ignore them or to mow them when they appear.
Whatever you do, don't spray the suckers. They're still part of the main tree, so if you spray them, you can damage the tree.
Whatever you do, don't spray the suckers. They're still part of the main tree, so if you spray them, you can damage the tree.
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: May 11th, 2009, 12:49 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Grass Type: KBG (Midnight II, Moonlight & Bedazzled)
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: how to prevent these?
thanks! I was going to ask if it was ok to spray with RU so no suckers grow....bpgreen wrote:Whatever you do, don't spray the suckers. They're still part of the main tree, so if you spray them, you can damage the tree.
I guess I'll just ignore it...
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests