How to Remove Suckers From Fruit Trees Before They Hurt Your Harvest

Fruit trees have to put up with a lot, whether it's pests, diseases, or even suckers. The first two are self-explanatory, of course—but what are suckers? These straight, thin branches grow vigorously and out of place among mature ones; they usually appear in groups lower on a tree.

Unfortunately, suckers can impact fruit production and growth, so it's best to get rid of them if you can. Here's how the experts say to do it.

How to Identify Suckers 

Suckers are growths that come from a fruit tree's root flare or the roots themselves. “You'll see really fast growth that's below the graft line,” says Sam Tall, owner of City Farmers Nursery. “Sucker growth often looks different than the rest of the plant—[it has] a different leaf structure, color, or spines. Sometimes, the sucker's growth diameter can be bigger than the trunk of the original plant.”

Why Suckers Need to Go

Fruit trees must be heavily pruned every year or more to produce fruit, says Jean-Claude Rochat, owner of Arborist Now, Inc. "Suckers must be removed, as they are different from the grafting stock and don't bear fruits," he adds.

Suckers are new growth that redirect energy away from fruit production and compete for sunlight and photosynthesis.

Think of your tree as a highway, says Tall—the suckers are like exit ramps. “They're big and the nutrition meant for your tree gets deterred,” he adds. “[They] can get really large and drain your tree of nutrients, causing weak branching in the original tree, a drop in production from the fruit-producing part of your tree, and a misdirection of growth.”

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How to Remove

“When you catch it early in the season, these tender sprouts can be snapped by hand because they're easy to remove,” says Tucker. “Older sucker growth can be pruned about a half of an inch from the trunk—but you may need to seal the cut to prevent infection.”

Pruning shears are all that’s needed, but be sure they’re sharp. Wipe them down with rubbing alcohol before and after to prevent the spread of disease. “When cutting out sucker growth, if it's newer or fresh, then cut it really close to the trunk or root system,” says Tall.

However, prevention is the best tactic, and that starts with proper pruning. When you prune over 30 percent of the tree canopy, for example, you'll still have a big root structure that wants to compensate for the loss of growth. “When the canopy is cut back that far, the roots can sometimes force sucker growth from the root system,” he says. 

Also, make sure the roots closer to the surface don't dry out. This can cause them to sucker.