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Can I grow a new linden tree from a sucker?

13 years ago

We had an enormous beautiful big leaf linden tree on the northeast side of the house. It cast wonderful deep shade on that portion of the house, which kept things nice and cool in the summer.

The tree was struck by lightning several years ago and over time large pieces the size of small trees would break and come down, so we had to cut down the whole tree.

The base of the trunk is still alive and suckering heavily. If I select one or two of the straightest suckers, stake them, and cut the rest back, can I grow a new tree?

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Comments (3)

brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
The sucker can eventually form a tree. The thing that would concern me most, especially since you said it was near your house, is that the root system may be insufficient to support the tree as it grows larger. Most of the root system for the sucker will likely be only on the opposite side of the sucker from the original tree. The sucker may form a reliable root system as it grows larger, but it's less likely to do so than a normal seedling. If you do decide to grow the sucker, don't stake it unless you absolute have to for some reason. The sucker will need all the pushing and pulling the wind would normally give it to encourage strong root support.

Another thing you might consider is the trouble you will have to go to (not being able to apply a chemical to kill the root system to keep it from suckering all over the place for some time to come, keeping all those suckers cut down, worrying about what will eventually happen as the tree grows larger, etc) relative to the payoff (not having to plant a replacement). Planting a replacement tree will allow you to more effectively deal with the old tree/stump, plant the tree in just the spot you want to, and choose whatever tree you would like.

BTW, I'm not trying to talk you out of keeping the sucker...really. I'm just giving you the downsides for consideration.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
hey brandon ...

let specuilate.. what about a 3 foot wide rotting stump ... and the generation of a new tree.. next to that rotting corpse????

is it possible.. 10 ... 20 ... 30 years down the line.. that the new one will fall over.. due to the cavity of decaying material???

IF IT WERE ME ..... being a pessimist .... i would not invest 10 or 20 .. or 30 years in this project only to fail ....

i would kill that stump.. and mail order a new plant .... plant it 5 to 10 feet away .... and be insured that my investment in time.. pays off ...

i have not bought from the link.. but many others seem happy with experience ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
It depends on the proximity of the chosen sucker to the stump. If a sucker is chosen very near the original tree, then the rotting stump may be a problem. If one a few feet away from the original tree is chosen, this particular problem wouldn't be an issue. Of course the potential for an unbalanced root system will still exist.

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