Question
I cut down some old holly from around the house and there are suckers coming up, can I transplant them els where? And how would I go about it? Also how do I kill off the what is left so they quit growing suckers? Thank you for your time.
Sarah Hollister

Answer
Hello Sarah

Yes, you can certainly transplant the suckers,  either this fall or in the spring - here's what you do:

First - Dig the hole(s) in the place you've selected as the sucker(s) new home.  You do this first so that the suckers spend the least possible time out of the soil.

2.  Use a garden fork or spade to locate where the suckers are attached to the root of the parent plant (each sucker will have developed its own root system).

3.  Sever the sucker from the root its growing from, using secateurs or a pruning saw and gently dig up the sucker with all its roots.

4.  Place the sucker in the previously prepared hole and adjust its depth until the 'earth mark' on the stem of the sucker is level with the surrounding the soil.

5.  Back fill the hole, firming it gently as you go.

6.  Water the new independent plant well.

Finally, spread a mulch of compost over the site to retain moisture and discourage weed growth.

During the first growing season water the plants during dry spells.

To get rid of what remains of the original tree it's best to use a stump killer (obtainable from the garden center or possibly the hardware store - follow the instructions carefully).  It may take some time to completely eradicate the stump.  If more suckers do appear, just pull them up - they eventually lose heart and stop growing!

I hope the above is what you need and hope you have great success growing new plant!

Gill