Removing a rootstock sucker on a citrus tree

Branches that grow from below the graft union on citrus trees should be cut out immediately. See details in my post "Beware of rootstock suckers on citrus trees": gregalder.com/yardposts/bewar...

[@kittybri8214]

So all branches that are Spiky means its a root stock??? I have a orange bush and it full of spiky branches. So I should cut them all?

[@Burridgeamy]

What if there is no extra root? Mine seems to be coming from the main trunk of my orange plant :(

[@chuckeecheese162]

Can you get a sucker to flower if you root it. Or is it always going to be a three leaved sucker. We had a awesome limequat tree that my mother killed accidentally. It popped suckers so I rooted one. Probably a waste of effort?

[@gregalderdotcom]

The rootstock sucker will flower, but do you want it to? It won't produce limequat fruit unless your limequat tree hadn't been grafted (didn't have a rootstock).

[@KevsGuide]

So just cut it? Dont need to cover it or anything?

[@gregalderdotcom]

Yep, just cut.

[@frankyancy1347]

Do you do anything about the ants? Have heard they can bring other negative things.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Frank,
I've done different things over the years, from spraying water on leaves and stems to remove their honeydew sources to putting barriers on the trunks to bait stations. Right now I'm focusing on bait stations. I've recently added more because the Argentine ant population in my yard has grown too high. (That video is not my yard, by the way.)

[@frankyancy1347]

Thx, I tried vaseline on tree trunk, as per on a CZcams vdeo but my tiny ants don't stick to it.

[@Zennofobic]

@@frankyancy1347 i've been mixing borax and cane sugar at a ration of 1-4 (1 tsp borax 4 tsp sugar) sprinkle a few drops of hot water mix it all up and put it in a plastic container (yogurt cups, I use cream cheese oval containers) and punch holes big enough for the ants to go in. The ants eat the powder mixture bring it back to the colony and the ants will be gone for a number of monhts... unfortunately you have to keep repeating it throughout the season but that's how I control my ants. They were bringing aphids to all my fruit trees.

[@steelonius]

Ants aren't always harmful and are sometimes a response to high nitrogen levels. The fast growing tree or plant produces a large volume of sugar and ants will be attracted honeydew from aphid activity, even helping maintain aphids. Ants can also improve aeration in soil. Obviously if they are eating the leaves or damaging the fruit that is annoying. But fast growing plants aren't exactly the same as healthy ones. High nitrogen stimulates rapid growth, but very often at the expense of any defense mechanisms from the plant and with concomitant increase in honeydew. Food for thought, especially if you apply fertilizers. Stefan Sobkowiak has some good ideas on how to manage these issues in some permaculture youtube videos.