White Poplar Tree Root Suckers - Ask Extension
The white poplar tree in my front lawn has been sending up root suckers and it's very unsightly. The suckers are coming out of the roots that have ri...
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White Poplar Tree Root Suckers #799319
Asked July 04, 2022, 10:28 AM EDT
The white poplar tree in my front lawn has been sending up root suckers and it's very unsightly. The suckers are coming out of the roots that have risen through the lawn. I have been cutting them down with clippers, but the process is long and tedious as there are many root suckers in the lawn. I try to hide them by growing the lawn 3-4 inches tall but they grow back quicker than the grass. How do I get rid of them so I don't have to cut them down with clippers every week when I cut the grass?
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns. White Poplar is a beautiful tree, but one not usually recommended for the lawn or garden area. The suckering is the reason, as it is typical for this tree, and when seen in nature it usually colonizes through this method.
When these types of trees are planted in a lawn area, and suckers are not right up in the trunk area, regular mowing can keep them in bounds. Unfortunately, suckers are best removed by hand pruning, and you need to remove all of it as soon as they appear. If a small stem is left, then multiple new growth can be formed. There is not much research on the herbicides that claim to be effective, but it appears to not be 100% effective and may damage the original tree in the process.
Iowa State: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
When these types of trees are planted in a lawn area, and suckers are not right up in the trunk area, regular mowing can keep them in bounds. Unfortunately, suckers are best removed by hand pruning, and you need to remove all of it as soon as they appear. If a small stem is left, then multiple new growth can be formed. There is not much research on the herbicides that claim to be effective, but it appears to not be 100% effective and may damage the original tree in the process.
Iowa State: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/managing-suckers-fruit-ornamental-and-shade-trees
