Prune out suckers

Some trees and shrubs are grafted on to a rootstock. Once they are planted, there is a risk that the rootstock will send up suckers that bear no resemblance to the ornamental character of the main plant. It can be worse if there has been some root disturbance. If the shoots are small they can be torn away from the root to remove the basal buds. If they have to be cut away, make the cut as low as possible to avoid leaving any buds that will grow later.

Cut out rogue shoots sprouting from tree or shrub rootstocks