Removing Root Suckers

Q. Is there a simple way of stopping or preventing the volunteer trees, i.e., new tree growth that suddenly starts growing near the base of original tree? 

Root suckers can pop up at any distance from the tree. They can be used for propagation but remember, as in this case, the suckers are clonse of the rootstock and not necessarily the tree on top (scion).

A. Some plants grow “suckers” at the  base of the plant and others produce suckers, or new growth, a distance away from the plant.  If roots of suckering plants find water and it is out in the open with enough sun, they will sucker. 

Oleander suckering from its base (crown).

This is the difference between suckers arising from the stem or trunk (sometimes called the “crown”) and growing from the roots. Plants that can grow as a bush sucker from the crown. Plants that forms “thickets” grow suckers from their roots. Roots suckers are common to some plums and jujube as well as landscape trees like elm.

Jujube suckering several feet away from its trunk. Several trees have root suckers like Jujube when they must survive fires.

           So far, the only practical way to eliminate them is to slice the roots and remove these plants, roots and all. To prevent diseases found in the soil from invading the tree roots, allow these cut surfaces to heal 24 hours before burying them again.