Removing Suckers From Tree Limbs

Question

I have lots of suckers growing off major limbs of live oaks. Some say cut them, others tell me they help a tree which has been troubled during hot dry summer. Who is correct?

Answer 1

Suckers normally indicate that the tree is suffering from stress. It is perfectly safe to remove these suckers, though pinpointing the cause of the tree's stress and correcting it would help as well.