>>> tbh we're not 100% sure they are quinces - there was no fruit last year,
>>> so i'm guessing :-) they look like quinces, though.
>>>
>>> however, there are several, & they have water shoots at their bases, &
>>> even worse, clumps of suckers coming up out of the ground.
>>>
>>> i have read that one should not cut water shoots or suckers, but rather,
>>> tear them off, otherwise they just grow back (is this true?). but these
>>> are a bit too sturdy for tearing (i've tried).
>>
>> I've read the same thing and done the same thing but I'm never sure if it
>> works or not. If they are too big, I now cut them off and that seems to
>> make no difference either.
> well that is reassuring, since i have no idea what plan b might be!!
> do you snip them off with secateurs, or saw them off in a clump? (i'm
> thinking of sawing, as it would seem to be a better option with so many
> shoots, & then i could rub off any new shoots.)
I do whatever is required. I rub off the new ones if I can, if thye are too
bug to breal/tear off, then I either secateur/parrot beak lopper or saw them
off depending on size.
> we have a continual problem with water shoots & some of the trees. i'd bet
> anything the previous people were careless whipper-snippers. how it makes
> me snort with rage!!
Fair chance, but then some trees just seem to be natural suckerers too.
> i was going to ask dh to dig out all the suckers, & we can have a look at
> where they seem to have come from.
That is something I wouldn't do as I think you'd probably make the problem
worse. The damage done to the roots in digging them up would in all
likelihood just bring more suckers.
again, i just can't think what else to do
> in the absence of brilliant ideas forthcoming from this group ;-) and
> plus, he seems to enjoy doing manly things that don't do much for me
> personally.
Just keep cutting or dig out the whole thing and start again (although I
don't think I'd bother doing that in a country garden - any growth is better
than none.) Try leaving it till midsummer when it will be the equivalnet
(hopefully) to summer pruing.
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>>> so i'm guessing :-) they look like quinces, though.
>>>
>>> however, there are several, & they have water shoots at their bases, &
>>> even worse, clumps of suckers coming up out of the ground.
>>>
>>> i have read that one should not cut water shoots or suckers, but rather,
>>> tear them off, otherwise they just grow back (is this true?). but these
>>> are a bit too sturdy for tearing (i've tried).
>>
>> I've read the same thing and done the same thing but I'm never sure if it
>> works or not. If they are too big, I now cut them off and that seems to
>> make no difference either.
> well that is reassuring, since i have no idea what plan b might be!!
> do you snip them off with secateurs, or saw them off in a clump? (i'm
> thinking of sawing, as it would seem to be a better option with so many
> shoots, & then i could rub off any new shoots.)