October is not the best time to prune lots of trees, but there is one job you can quickly do this month that will benefit many popular backyard trees. That is to remove suckers before they get too large.
Suckers are vigorous, upright stems often seen growing around the base of a tree. They can appear for various reasons. Some are the result of grafts on ornamental or fruit trees, while others may emerge due to damage, and some trees simply sucker prolifically. No matter why they appear, suckers are troublesome and are best removed quickly. They drain nutrients, and removing them in the fall helps the tree conserve energy to get them through the winter.
