Root stock sprouts

[marlingardener]

We keep getting sprouts on the root stock, below the graft, on our pear and apple trees. I keep them trimmed off, but was hoping there is a way of preventing the sprouts.
I don't mind trimming, but am afraid that the sprouts are stealing energy from the desirable part of the trees.
Can anyone help, please?

 

[zigs]

Shouldn't be doing that, had you recently pruned them?

Only thing I can think of is to put a light excluding band round it, that could double as a grease band to stop bugs crawling up.

 

[marlingardener]

Zigs, we hadn't pruned until the new buds showed up about two weeks ago. These trees, as I should have mentioned, are three or four years old. I'll try the band. We do have bugs (a few!) in Texas, so the bands may be of more help than I expected! Thank you!!!

 

[Everbrown]

I looked around a bit but didn't see anything other then some chemical (which may not be available anymore and wasn't really for usuable fruit trees). I did see a mention that if you break them off when they first show it may in effect kill the bud they started from (as opposed to trimming) , also I think I saw white cardboard as a band.

 

[zigs]

Zigs, we hadn't pruned until the new buds showed up about two weeks ago. These trees, as I should have mentioned, are three or four years old. I'll try the band. We do have bugs (a few!) in Texas, so the bands may be of more help than I expected! Thank you!!!

Might help, just couldn't think of anything else