15/08/2026
After three years away, the old sweet chestnut had clearly decided to make the most of its freedom! The base had become a mass of suckers and vigorous new shoots, so yesterday’s much needed cut back revealed something that had been hidden for years a wonderfully gnarly, twisted trunk.
Tree suckers are shoots that grow from the base or roots rather than from the main framework of the tree. They can be particularly vigorous, taking energy and nutrients from the tree while creating a dense, untidy thicket around the base. Left unchecked, they can also obscure the trunk and, in some trees, compete with the main crown for resources.
Removing them keeps the tree’s structure clear, directs growth towards the established crown and, importantly in the case of an old tree, lets you keep an eye on the base of the trunk for damage, decay or other problems.
For most deciduous trees, suckers are best removed during the dormant season generally late winter, before the main spring flush of growth. That makes it easier to see what needs removing and avoids encouraging a lot of fresh growth straight away. However, particularly vigorous suckers can be removed when they appear, especially if they are obscuring the trunk or becoming a nuisance.
With an old sweet chestnut, though, it’s worth being conservative. Removing years of growth in one go can put additional stress on an ageing tree, so regular, modest maintenance is generally preferable to letting the suckers take over and then giving the tree a dramatic haircut every few years.
For now, at least, that glorious old twisted trunk is back on display proof that sometimes a tree’s best feature is the bit you can’t see until you give it a good tidy-up.
BBC Gardeners' World Magazine The Great Gardens of Cornwall
