Glossary term
What is Epicormic sprouts?
Short answer
Epicormic sprouts are thin shoots that grow from buds on the trunk or old branches, often after stress or heavy pruning.
Epicormic sprouts, explained for tree service owners
Epicormic sprouts are shoots that pop out of the trunk or large limbs, from buds that were sleeping under the bark. They often appear after a tree is stressed by drought, storm damage, heat or heavy pruning. The shoots grow fast but are weakly attached, so they can break off in wind. For a tree service owner, a tree covered in sprouts after topping is a common sight, and it tells the story of a past hard cut. When you see them, explain to the homeowner that the sprouts are a stress response, not a sign of strong health. Often the right step is careful thinning over time, and sometimes the tree is better replaced.
Related terms
- Compartmentalization
Compartmentalization is a tree's way of walling off a wound so decay stays in one area and does not spread.
- Crown reduction
Crown reduction is a pruning method that makes a tree's top smaller by cutting branches back to side branches, instead of topping.
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