What to do about the fruit of the Chinese Hackberry?

Question

We have large Chinese Hackberry trees and they drop massive amounts of their tiny berries on our lawn and garden which germinate and grow baby hackberries in our lawn and garden. Is there anything that I can use to keep them from fruiting? Is there anything like a pre-emergent that will keep the fruit from germinating?

Answer 1

There might be some hormone sprays available that would help prevent fruiting. Otherwise, changing the balance of fertilizers you give the tree might help: phosphorus fertilizers tend to promote fruiting. See these articles for more information:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/fruit-tree-sterilization.htm

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/preventing-or-reducing-fruit-ornamental-trees