Regular pruning and maintenance will prompt certain tree species to repair themselves using epicormic growth.
While this regrowth is vital for the long-term health of the tree, shoots can also appear in less desirable areas. As qualified tree surgeons, we can determine the best approach to deal with epicormic growth.
Read on to find out more…
Epicormic growth, sometimes called suckers or water sprouts, are new shoots that originate from dormant buds on a tree’s trunk or branches.
While some tree varieties are known to produce a large number of sprouts, there are other reasons behind these growths. Research has shown that shoots can appear on areas of a tree newly exposed to sunlight.
There is also some evidence that epicormic growth is an indicator of a tree suffering stress. For example, wind damage or over pruning can stimulate epicormic sprouts as the tree tries to compensate for losing leaf surface area.
Epicormic growth is commonly removed to improve the appearance of a tree. However, this can actually cause the tree to suffer even more stress as it struggles to increase its energy level.
Consider whether the shoots have been generated as a self-protection measure by the tree. Direct sunlight can lead to the bark cracking, exposing the tree’s vital vascular system and creating opportunities for pest infestation.
Where epicormic growth adds weight to branches, it might be wise to do some tree pruning to prevent the limb breaking in high winds.
Stronger epicormic sprouts can be lightly pruned to avoid removing the stem back at the trunk, causing less stress to the tree.
Please note that removing epicormic growth triggers more sprouts to appear, so it is not always wise to remove them.
We advise taking off a small number of weaker shoots in less desirable areas, such as overhanging a building or on the main trunk. In time, stronger sprouts will win the battle for sunlight and will become a mature branch.
Hidden underneath the bark, epicormic buds are dormant as they are suppressed by growth hormones from active branches further up the tree.
However, these buds can become active if sunlight is detected or if there is damage to other branches. While epicormic buds are common in many tree species, they are not found in others, including conifers.
Here at Branching Out we rely on epicormic growth so a tree can regrow following tree surgery, such as coppicing or pollarding. This regrowth becomes part of a regular cycle for species with strong epicormic properties.
Tree maintenance professionals use pruning to generate growth in the shoots below.
Not all epicormic growth is desirable, so care needs to be taken when planning tree planting schemes. Specimens which regularly produce epicormic shoots can be beneficial for woodland settings which require regrowth after pollarding or coppicing.
For ornamental areas, you may choose to replace trees with varieties which are less likely to produce epicormic growth.
One short-term solution is chemical treatment of epicormic shoots, but this technique may leave wounds on the stem.
The best way to eliminate epicormic growth is to remove them with annual tree surgery. If you are looking for professional garden maintenance service, look no further than Branching Out.
We cover North Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including Hitchin, Letchworth, Stevenage, Royston, Biggleswade, Bedford, Flitwick, Luton and the surrounding villages.
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