Q.Can I grow a new tree from the stump of a cut down tree?
I had a large tree in my garden that was cut down. The stump still sprouts shoots every year that I prune off. I have left one upright branch this year. If I keep pruning all the other shoots from nest year, will the branch Im favouring grow into a tree, with the large stump attached?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
The short answer is yes, the leader you are favoring will likely grow up as a new tree. And with an existing root system already established, the growth may be enhanced.
But there are some considerations about doing this. The stump will begin to rot from wood decay fungus. In the long term, 10 to 20 years, that could create a structural weakness for the new tree trunk and potential for structural failure and risk of property damage and personal injury.
You don't indicate what kind of tree it is, but if it's a grafted tree with different root stock from the desirable top portion that was cut down, then the sucker that you are cultivating may be from below the graft and different from what you expect.
