Poplars are extremely prolific deciduous trees. They secure their species population not only through thousands and thousands of downy flying seeds, but also through root runners. This can be a real problem for garden owners.
How do you remove poplar root suckers?
To permanently remove poplar root suckers, the root stump of the mother poplar must be dug up. This prevents the constant re-germination of shoots and is more effective than regular mowing or topping off the shoots.
Interesting facts about poplar roots
Poplars have a root system that is classified between the horizontal and cardiac root groups. For the most part, their roots grow horizontally in all directions and remain fairly close to the surface of the earth. There is no dominant, vertically downward main root strand like in taproots. Rather, coarse and fine roots of different thicknesses share the task of mineral and water absorption.
The fine roots of poplars are comparatively long and not very branched. They pull the minerals and water up into the tree. The coarse roots provide support in the ground.
Poplars have many horizontally growing lateral roots or secondary roots that are formed inside the roots and grow vertically away from the main root. These lateral roots can become a real problem for garden owners. Because they tend to form shoots through which the tree reproduces vegetatively in addition to seed propagation.
To remember:
- Poplars are a mix of horizontal and heartroot trees
- form many sprouting lateral roots for vegetative propagation
Sapling rage when felled
It gets particularly bad when a poplar tree is felled to more than 2/3 of its original height and its rootstock is left standing. The activity of the rootstock, which is anything but dead, then concentrates downwards and feels even more motivated to produce as many offspring as it can. The result: a veritable forest of saplings emerges around the stump.
The problem: The sprouting activity of the horizontal roots is not stopped even if you cut the shoots again and again. Mowing the lawn regularly is a relatively convenient and initially effective solution, but the stems of the mini poplars become noticeable when walking barefoot because of their firmer consistency compared to grass. And as I said: It's a Sisyphean task.
Only long-term effective remedy: digging out
In order to put an end to the constant re-germination of the mini poplars, it doesn't help: The root stump of the mother poplar has to be dug up. This is of course a complex job that can actually only be done with the help of motorized equipment.
