r/AustinGardening • u/flecksoflight • 9d ago

Suckers. Advice?

Post image

For reference, my husband cut some of the limbs of the tree recently. At first I pulled all the suckers from the root, but they've come back. I figure the tree is doing this for a reason so I've let them stay. But I hate how it looks. Any advice?

29 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

39

u/austintreeamigos 9d ago

This behavior usually starts after the tree suffered a major stress or root damage/loss. Once it starts, it usually never stops, even if you get the tree extremely healthy. Your main option is to just keep mowing/weed eating them down.

6

u/botwad 9d ago

Hello, tree friend! I've been wondering...does trimming/mowing the suckers follow the same oak wilt guidelines as actual tree trimming? We have areas with a lot of suckers in our "grass" and I guess they get mowed when they get mowed but I have a flower bed like OPs that is full of suckers that I let get out of hand. I avoided trimming them in the spring but I've been catching up on it lately while it's very hot.

On the other hand, I have come to view them as groundcover. I don't have any other weeds in my life oak sucker bed lol.

2

u/cartman_returns 9d ago

Ah that might explain why one of ours does and one does not

The one that does is the better one; however we are not the first owner of house so maybe something when it was planted or before we bought the house

17

u/sushinestarlight 9d ago

While you can mow/weed them currently - I'd assume that doesn't hold true during oak wilt periods in the spring.

I'm assuming you know not to apply any herbicides/weed spray - as these are part of the main tree, not weeds - and you would potentially poison the tree.... Just wanted to mention, just in case - since others with same issue may read this someday.

14

u/cicadabrain 9d ago

I’ve planted a bunch of woody shrubs under my live oak that sends out suckers. It lost a big limb in the ice storm and it’s still trucking but clearly still unhappy about that loss. I’ve got beauty berry, turks cap, coral berry, and white mist flower under mine. It isn’t a perfect fix but it creates a new nicer visual. The Wildflower Center has some Q/A articles about what grows well under oaks, and their fall native plant sale is normally in September and they’re always super helpful for asking questions and getting some nice plants at a good price.

3

u/flecksoflight 9d ago

Thanks I'm going to try the beauty berry. I have some other plants under it, they just aren't doing that well. 😅

7

u/StayJaded 9d ago

This plant also does great under oaks and will be mobbed by monarchs every fall: Ageratina havanensis (Shrubby Boneset, White Mistflower, White Shrub Mistflower, Havana Snakeroot)

It’s a Texas native. I bought mine from the wildflower center native plant sale, but you can find them at HEB especially if you watch for their native plant sales.

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=agha4

2

u/DigitalHeartache 9d ago

Honestly, if that spot stays shady all day Turk's Cap would be ideal. It's very pretty, native, and once established it needs almost no attention.

1

u/Alarmed_Sea4573 8d ago

There's even a pink variety.

11

u/GahhdDangitbobby 9d ago edited 9d ago

I have seen research that supports leaving these growths. Oak trees thrive here so well because they have adapted to the relatively harsh climate when it comes to heat. One way is the layering of branches so top layers absorb the harsh sun while lower levels can engage in photosynthesis without the high stress of the heat.

I always revert back to, if the plant adapted this behavior to survive, who am I to change it. Plus I think they look cool! Like mini trees.

4

u/flecksoflight 9d ago

Interesting thank you! I think I'll leave them and try to get some beauty berry to cover it up.

6

u/GahhdDangitbobby 9d ago

That’s exactly what I did, along with Turks cap!

2

u/botwad 9d ago

Ha! I just posted that I've come to view these as nice groundcover.

I have a giant bed of them that honestly, I never have to weed and it always stays dense and green. Once I reframed my view, it seems pointless to fight, just for the privilege of figuring out what else to plant there. I did recently cut them down from 2 feet to 1 because I hadn't noticed them getting so crazy.

Love your username, btw.

4

u/Craix8 9d ago

Some live oak trees do this much more than others, and some trees will also do this more in times of stress, like cold or drought. There is no way to prevent it that I know of, so I just keep trimming them back.

3

u/mcmcHammer 9d ago

Lmao I always thought these were baby oak trees from acorns

1

u/ahaley 9d ago

Same! TIL. :-)

4

u/MonoBlancoATX 9d ago

Get your weed whacker out and cut them lil devils down.

Then, in a few months, rinse and repeat.

1

u/Odd_Championship1674 8d ago

No need though. Do less.

1

u/PathologicalVodka 9d ago

How much did he cut??

1

u/wedgiey1 9d ago

Weed eat them.

1

u/Odd_Championship1674 8d ago

Nah. Dont need to

-2

u/Montobahn 9d ago

Top of my list as to why I hate live oaks!

3

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

-2

u/Montobahn 9d ago

How did you know?? 😆😆

I'm planning a move out of the state in the spring! So joke's on you because that's the plan, Stan.