Q. I have a beautiful huge redwood tree in the backyard. There
are a lot of green suckers around the base. Some are about two feet
tall. Is it OK to leave them there? Does this harm the tree?
– C.P., Gilroy
It’s garden questions and answers again! You may e-mail me questions at [email protected]. Or you can mail me questions in care of this newspaper. For a faster, personal response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q. I have a beautiful huge redwood tree in the backyard. There are a lot of green suckers around the base. Some are about two feet tall. Is it OK to leave them there? Does this harm the tree? – C.P., Gilroy
Your beautiful huge redwood tree has been doing fine with those suckers that have come up around the base. Removing them or keeping them is really up to you. Suckers are shoots that arise from below the bud graft of plants and trees. Because of this, the sucker growth produces an unimproved redwood. That’s why experts usually recommend suckers should be removed as soon as they present themselves. On the other hand, those suckers aren’t bothering anything. So, it’s entirely up to you whether you want those suckers or not!
Q. I know there is such a thing as “sucker killer,” but I’ve tried all the home improvement stores. None can help and, most of them, don’t even know about it. Can you help? – R.A., Gilroy
This truly shows that one person’s gold is another person’s… Here we have one person who wants to keep the suckers on their redwood tree versus you who wants to get rid of the darn things! To tell the truth, most people do want to get rid of suckers that come up at the base of everything from roses and lilacs to plums and redwoods! However, anything you spray on the suckers to kill them will eventually work its way back to the trees and could cause damage or even death. There did, indeed, used to be a product on the market to kill sucker growth, but I believe it was taken off because it killed more than just the suckers. This doesn’t leave much of an alternative. To get rid of suckers, one must pull or cut them off. Pulling is much easier said than done since these suckers are attached to the roots! If you cut them off, they keep coming up. Talk about dilemmas! Alas, there is no easy way to get rid of suckers. Personally, I cut my suckers down and cut again and cut again whenever they come up.
Q. Can you get me some information about rhubarb? In the note that came with the plants, it said, “Do not eat first year rhubarb.” Why? Do they need shade to turn red? The Sunset plant book didn’t say anything. – K.M., San Martin.
You wanted information about rhubarb, you got it. It’s a perennial vegetable, meaning it comes back year after year. That’s why it’s recommended you don’t harvest the first year. In fact, some experts say don’t harvest for two complete seasons in order to build up a healthy root system and, ultimately harvest larger rhubarb stalks. First year stalks are usually pretty spindly anyway. Most experts recommend you don’t harvest stalks unless they are at least 1-inch in diameter or bigger. However, leave the smaller stalks on the plant to provide energy for roots. Cut down any flower stalks as soon as they appear so your plant won’t go to seed.
As for growing rhubarb, they take full sun or at least afternoon sun. They need deep, rich soil that is well-drained and ample water while they actively are growing in the spring and summer. The color of your rhubarb is not dependent on sunlight. It all depends on the variety you’re growing. For instance, Ruby and MacDonald are bright red, while Victoria is a green rhubarb. You’ll need patience to grow this perennial vegetable!
Keith Muraoka lives and works in Gilroy. E-mail him at [email protected].
