Apple Root Suckers

Root suckers are apple tree sprouts that emerge from the rootstock. They grow around the base of the tree. The point of origin of the suckers is the root. This makes them distinguishable from water sprouts, which originate from aboveground parts of the tree. Root suckers cause problems for the main tree in three significant ways:

  • They compete with the main tree for water and nutrients.
  • They are a prime feeding site for woolly apple aphids.
  • They are a potential