Suckering trees or shrubs send up new shoots or suckers from their roots.
The gardener may sometimes treat these suckers as a nuisance and remove them, or alternativly use them as a means to increase stock from that plant.
If new stock is required then begin the process circa Week 15 and this will give the suckers the rest of the season to establish themselves.
Note; Do not take suckers from grafted plants, as these suckers will produce plants resembling the rootstock variety, rather than the grafted variety.
When collecting the sucker/s firstly loosen the soil around the parent plant with a hand-fork, and then carefully lift the sucker, being careful not to disturb the parent plant.
Sever the sucker with a sharp knife, ensuring that it comes away with some roots attached.
Replace and firm the soil around the parent plant.
Tidy up the sucker by trimming off the main root back to the fibrous roots.
Reduce long, leafy shoots by about half to limit dehydration.
Place in a nursery bed where the soil is free-draining and enriched with organic matter.
Alternatively; pot up into a suitable sized pot of multipurpose compost.
Firm the soil around the roots then thoroughly water it in.
Place the pot/s into a coldframe to root.
Do not allow the plant to dry out in its first season.
