My WAG based on scant info provided is lawn mower damage. YMMV. If you don't like it, remove the tree and eventually the roots will die.

Dan

Ah, round-up on the suckers, will spread throughout the tree. So if you want to keep the tree, and stop using the round-up. It may not be enough to kill the tree directly, but it will add to the burden of living, and make it more susceptible to other things.

Arktrees

Thanks for your replies. Looks like the tree will have to go. Pity.

Cutting down the tree is not likely to stop suckers if in fact that is what they are. I would think it would be worse. The roots will send up suckers (if they are already doing so) at a mad rate in an attempt to survive. Also are you sure these aren't seedlings rather than suckers? Lastly, if this is a mature blackgum, then is seems a waste to cut it down, when a mower will take care of any suckers/seedlings quit nicely. Seems very OCD for perfection, and frankly short sighted. I personally just don't get it???????

Arktrees

arktrees,
I agree that removing the tree is drastic. It is a beautiful tree, provides shade and habitat, but the suckers (not seedlings) are growing into the shrubs and groundcover. The area does not have grass/lawn; it is covered with mulch, so mowing is not an option. I wouldn't be concerned if mowing were an option.

The tree is next to the driveway. If the suckers were allowed to grow to trees, visibility from the house would be reduced considerably (safety issue for me).

I do welcome any suggestions. I'm getting too old to bend down and cut these suckers.

My apology for sounding so judgmental,allot of people come on here and expect everything with no work and can be very callus. From that it sounds like the best option would be to have clippers where you didn't have to get down, along with raking or grabbers to pick up the pieces. Maybe hire a local kid for a couple hours 1-2 times year to remove them for you. Would be cheaper than removal of a large tree, and nicer too. These are just my initial thoughts.

Arktrees

Don't forget about long handled loopers either. Maybe can find some really long online, or replace handles with longer handles. For suckers, you wouldn't need allot of leverage. Could also look on Craiglist for people to hire as an odd job, and ask for references, or ask friends with kids/grand kids. I'm sure we can figure out something to help.

Arktrees

Don't forget about long handled loopers either. Maybe can find some really long online, or replace handles with longer handles. For suckers, you wouldn't need allot of leverage. Could also look on Craiglist for people to hire as an odd job, and ask for references, or ask friends with kids/grand kids. I'm sure we can figure out something to help.

Arktrees

just leave the trimmed suckers in the mulch if they blend in.

just curious, is your big black gum a grafted variety? and we are talking about Nyssa sylvatica the medium size tree with GREAT fall color I assume.

Sorry for the double post. GW was acting up.

Arktrees

My family has black gum trees as well with the same problem. It is the mulch that is causing them to sprout so many suckers, the trees at my house didn't make any until the first year when we put down mulch, then they started sending up suckers, which followed the mulching line exactly. Cutting down the tree won't help but removing the mulch (as odd as it sounds) should.

Thanks to all for your comments.

toronado3800,
The black gum is whatever is native to this area (E. TN), not grafted. The suckers are also occurring in the surrounding woods, but not nearly to the extent of this lone tree. The fall color is gorgeous.

arktrees,
I have some long-handled clippers, I just never though about using them.

Byzantine279,
You may be correct about the mulch. I thought I was being so clever about using mulch where groundcover won't grow (heavy clay). Yet that is exactly where the suckers are coming up, time after time after time.....

Arktrees,
I mispoke (miswrote?) about not using the clippers. I have used clippers, thinking that would stop the growth, but they just come back in the sampe places. Thus the focus on killing them with chemicals, which didn't work either.

I cut down a mature black gum tree a few years ago and now have dozens growing through the ground cover all over my back yard. I clipped diwn each one last year, then brushed the tips with a stump killer this year, at least as many suckers are back. how do I get rid if them all for good?

' I clipped down each one last year, then brushed the tips with a stump killer this year '

You have to clip the suckers then immediately brush the tips with undiluted, full strength brush killer or glyphosate.

Clipping, then waiting until later to put the brush killer on will not work very good at all.

It would've been easier to brush the stump of the tree when first cut, that wouldv'e taken care of the whole deal, roots and all.