The Hidden Dangers of Epicormic Sprouts Revealed

You may have seen them. New sprouts growing on the lower trunk, root/trunk flare, or roots of young and adolescent trees. Usually, there are several sprouts growing in a cluster or in small areas. They are growing faster than the other limbs on the tree. They are not what some call “suckers” or “water sprouts”. Most of these sprouts are epicormic, literally new sprouts growing upon the trunk.

MOST EPICORMIC SPROUTS ARE A SIGN – PLEASE TAKE NOTICE!
The tree is trying to tell us something is wrong. Something is causing them stress and, in many cases, left untreated, strain, failure, disfigurement, or death is an upcoming reality.

Epicormic sprouting is a sign of stress or injury to some part(s) of a tree. Epicormic sprouting can be from something beguine as a nail hammered into a trunk to a complex series of escalating events that compound and overtake a tree, ending in death. In many cases, trees mis-pruned are the beginning of the end.

Through forensic analysis we can determine, in many cases, the causal agent of tree disfigurement, failure, and death. It is sad to report mis-pruning is the causal agent of too many tree deaths.

Read through the photos and text. Then look for sprouting on tree trunks in your area. Try and determine the causal agent. It is not usually the outward signs you notice first that reveal the real causal agent. Investigate further. Just because trees can’t talk doesn’t mean they are not trying to communicate. Learn to speak their language. If insects and disease can read trees, so can we.

Take photographs with good light, from many angles and proximinty, some closeup, mid-range and the whole tree. Send them to me with your questions.

It feels great to take action, be a part of change for the betterment of trees, their associates, and us. Sharing this post is the first step in helping to create change. I appreciate your curiosity in trees and helping to create the next phase of modern arboriculture… The implementation of knowledge and understanding.
Change is coming.

SS