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Silly question but here goes

nodlisabnodlisab Posts: 414
in Problem solving
I have decided to dig up my Lilac tree/bush because the suckers are getting to many to control. My question is if I remove the tree/bush will the roots I leave still send up suckers?

Posts

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    unfortunately yes, keep pulling them out though and you will get rid of it in the end.
  • nodlisabnodlisab Posts: 414
    Thanks Skandi, not the news I was hoping for as some suckers are at least 4 feet from the tree, so a lot of digging needed to find the roots. thought once I severed them from the tree they would die.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    If it won't create what will be for you an eyesore, you could remove every visible sucker, before covering the area where they've been (and possibly a bit more) with builders' membrane or other black plastic.  All would not be lost if you 'pretty up' the site with plants in pots/troughs, or whatever, maybe covered liberally with lawn mowings, while denying the lilac its ability to reproduce.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    The only merit of lilac’s suckering tendencies is that roots go wide more than deep. Even so, I dug out every root I could find thicker than my finger and I think the beast has now gone. 
    Rutland, England
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I was going to ask the same question, mine’s gone mad this year for suckers, if I left them, would they turn into a bush rather than a tree and bloom on those suckers? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • nodlisabnodlisab Posts: 414
    Thanks for all your replies, yesterday I managed to dig out the main trunk and will now try and find the roots. I really did think that once the main trunk was out  the roots would automatically die. Anyway being 80 at least it is keeping me fit!
  • IgrowfromseedIgrowfromseed Posts: 284
    Our Robina was suckering like made when the tree was chopped down. I drilled a dozen holes in the stump and filled them with Roundup tree stump and root killer every week for a month. Did the job. 
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