Is this a sucker? Can they grow above the graft line?
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I have a citrus tree of the Washington Navel variety, which is around 4 years old (and has been here for 2 of those). Naturally this means it's a scion grafted onto rootstock of which I don't know the variety.
A few weeks ago I got this branch shooting out from the middle of it, to the point where it doubles the height of the tree. The leaves are wider than those of the rest of the tree, and with its growth I worry that it's a sucker.
That's a close-up of the leaves. It also has some spines but they're not that exaggerated.
Now the thing is, from what I can see, it's coming from above the graft, which is what has gotten me confused. In fact it seems to be coming from the place all the other branches are.
So, is it a sucker? Should I have it cut down? Or is it just a branch which is growing very quickly?
citrus grafting suckers
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I have a citrus tree of the Washington Navel variety, which is around 4 years old (and has been here for 2 of those). Naturally this means it's a scion grafted onto rootstock of which I don't know the variety.
A few weeks ago I got this branch shooting out from the middle of it, to the point where it doubles the height of the tree. The leaves are wider than those of the rest of the tree, and with its growth I worry that it's a sucker.
That's a close-up of the leaves. It also has some spines but they're not that exaggerated.
Now the thing is, from what I can see, it's coming from above the graft, which is what has gotten me confused. In fact it seems to be coming from the place all the other branches are.
So, is it a sucker? Should I have it cut down? Or is it just a branch which is growing very quickly?
citrus grafting suckers
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I have a citrus tree of the Washington Navel variety, which is around 4 years old (and has been here for 2 of those). Naturally this means it's a scion grafted onto rootstock of which I don't know the variety.
A few weeks ago I got this branch shooting out from the middle of it, to the point where it doubles the height of the tree. The leaves are wider than those of the rest of the tree, and with its growth I worry that it's a sucker.
That's a close-up of the leaves. It also has some spines but they're not that exaggerated.
Now the thing is, from what I can see, it's coming from above the graft, which is what has gotten me confused. In fact it seems to be coming from the place all the other branches are.
So, is it a sucker? Should I have it cut down? Or is it just a branch which is growing very quickly?
citrus grafting suckers
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
I have a citrus tree of the Washington Navel variety, which is around 4 years old (and has been here for 2 of those). Naturally this means it's a scion grafted onto rootstock of which I don't know the variety.
A few weeks ago I got this branch shooting out from the middle of it, to the point where it doubles the height of the tree. The leaves are wider than those of the rest of the tree, and with its growth I worry that it's a sucker.
That's a close-up of the leaves. It also has some spines but they're not that exaggerated.
Now the thing is, from what I can see, it's coming from above the graft, which is what has gotten me confused. In fact it seems to be coming from the place all the other branches are.
So, is it a sucker? Should I have it cut down? Or is it just a branch which is growing very quickly?
citrus grafting suckers
citrus grafting suckers
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
asked Sep 8 at 11:52
Haedrian
25217
25217
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Usually we reserve the term "sucker" to shoots arising from below the graft, and "water shoots" for those arising above the graft. The difference is that suckers allow inferior root stock vegetation to take over, eventually overwhelming the tree. Water shoots are the proper scion material, but in terms of quality and quantity of fruit produced (which is generally what we are after) the result is not as good as normally arising branches.
Some recommend removing the water shoot entirely, others think that you can prune back hard and force it to take its place among the other branches. It's clear however that it is currently producing enough leaf area to start depriving the better fruiting part of the tree of energy. Time for some corrective action, but wait a few hours for more comments before acting.
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Usually we reserve the term "sucker" to shoots arising from below the graft, and "water shoots" for those arising above the graft. The difference is that suckers allow inferior root stock vegetation to take over, eventually overwhelming the tree. Water shoots are the proper scion material, but in terms of quality and quantity of fruit produced (which is generally what we are after) the result is not as good as normally arising branches.
Some recommend removing the water shoot entirely, others think that you can prune back hard and force it to take its place among the other branches. It's clear however that it is currently producing enough leaf area to start depriving the better fruiting part of the tree of energy. Time for some corrective action, but wait a few hours for more comments before acting.
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Usually we reserve the term "sucker" to shoots arising from below the graft, and "water shoots" for those arising above the graft. The difference is that suckers allow inferior root stock vegetation to take over, eventually overwhelming the tree. Water shoots are the proper scion material, but in terms of quality and quantity of fruit produced (which is generally what we are after) the result is not as good as normally arising branches.
Some recommend removing the water shoot entirely, others think that you can prune back hard and force it to take its place among the other branches. It's clear however that it is currently producing enough leaf area to start depriving the better fruiting part of the tree of energy. Time for some corrective action, but wait a few hours for more comments before acting.
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Usually we reserve the term "sucker" to shoots arising from below the graft, and "water shoots" for those arising above the graft. The difference is that suckers allow inferior root stock vegetation to take over, eventually overwhelming the tree. Water shoots are the proper scion material, but in terms of quality and quantity of fruit produced (which is generally what we are after) the result is not as good as normally arising branches.
Some recommend removing the water shoot entirely, others think that you can prune back hard and force it to take its place among the other branches. It's clear however that it is currently producing enough leaf area to start depriving the better fruiting part of the tree of energy. Time for some corrective action, but wait a few hours for more comments before acting.
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
Usually we reserve the term "sucker" to shoots arising from below the graft, and "water shoots" for those arising above the graft. The difference is that suckers allow inferior root stock vegetation to take over, eventually overwhelming the tree. Water shoots are the proper scion material, but in terms of quality and quantity of fruit produced (which is generally what we are after) the result is not as good as normally arising branches.
Some recommend removing the water shoot entirely, others think that you can prune back hard and force it to take its place among the other branches. It's clear however that it is currently producing enough leaf area to start depriving the better fruiting part of the tree of energy. Time for some corrective action, but wait a few hours for more comments before acting.
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
answered Sep 8 at 13:04
Colin Beckingham
5,659326
5,659326
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
add a comment |Â
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Would "corrective action" involve clipping it so it's the same height as the other branches, or removing it outright?
– Haedrian
Sep 8 at 13:10
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well my inclination is for complete removal. You may get other suggestions. Something to bear in mind is why this happened. Check your tree thoroughly to see if there was a sudden event that stopped the rest of the tree from operating normally and caused the adventitious bud to burst into action.
– Colin Beckingham
Sep 8 at 16:27
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
Well, I removed the offending branch. As to why it happened - we're having a horribly harsh summer this year, could that be the case? I'm in a Mediterranean country as it is (which the tree should like), but I don't think it appreciates heatwaves.
– Haedrian
Sep 9 at 5:47
add a comment |Â
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