Water sprout

They are sometimes called suckers, although that term is more correctly applied to shoots that arise from below ground,[1] from the roots, and a distance from the trunk.

[2] Vigorous upright water sprouts often develop in response to various factors such as physical damage, heavy pruning (or pruning in general), sub-par environmental conditions (i.e. drought, overhydration, improper soil conditions), and in response to pest and/or disease.

[3] The structure of water-sprout regrowth is not as strong as natural tree growth,[4] and the shoots are more subject to diseases and pests.

[4] A system of principles of pruning considers this type of shoot undesirable on orchard trees because very little fruit is produced on them.

[7] Water sprouts are selected for this process due to their age and flexibility classifying them as a soft wood cutting ideal for the practice.