Cheryl, did your suckers break off cleanly from the root that spawned them, ending in a whitish tip that has no roots of its' own? That's what's happened on the ones I haven't wanted to dig (and disturb plants I've put in the removed-grass area.)

It's said that the general rule for woody entities is that roots spread approximately the same distance from and under the trunk, as the trees' height. A 10 ft. tall tree should have roots that extend out and down about 10 ft. So if it's a type that can make suckers, they could show up anywhere within about 10 ft of a 10 ft tall tree. IDK how CM compares to this kind of average.

Sucker on the left. New seedling on the right.

Sucker or sapling? IDK? But it gives some foliage interest to the bare area below this 20 year old, 30ft tall CM. I kept it.


This was definitely a sucker. Again left to add foliage interest at the bottom of the bare mirher tree trunk. Its about 14ft tall now and encorporated into the tree.

@purpleinopp. I learned a new term "pollard". In our parts, they call that "Crepe Murder". But of course, it had to be done to save Pirl's tree. And as we saw, it turned out beautiful! I always have been one to let CM's grow as it into the beautiful tree that is. But I am suddenly seriously considering a heavy trim on our oddly growing CM that is up against our house. 4 other CM's had to be removed because they were too close to the house. I like how bushy Pirl's tree is now and I would love for ours to be like that. As it is now it is tall and leggy. So leggy, that you don't notice the blooms because of all the space between the branches. I hope if I only "slightly murder" it it would look as beautiful as Pirl's next year?

I like the idea of slightly murdering the CM! I can understand your predicament and your comment did make me smile.

Me too! IDK the answer. I love the architecture of the trunks when left to be a tree, and also love the more profuse blooming when "murdered!" I'm glad there's some of both out there to see.