Crabapple does not need any introduction; it’s very popular because of the colorful and hardy nature. It is a low maintenance tree; however, it does require pruning from time to time. Even if it doesn’t require heavy pruning, knowing the right way is essential, so you don’t end up jeopardizing the tree’s health. Here are all the details on Pruning Crab Apple Tree the right way!
Check out our article growing Crabapple trees here!
When to Prune Crab Apples?
The best season to prune crabapple is late winter or early spring. Pruning at this time ensures that the tree has spring and summer to develop new growth. However, if you are looking forward to having a flower show for the coming spring, prune the tree immediately after the flowering in the current spring.
Suckers growing nearby the base of the tree can be pruned anytime without worrying about the season.
Equipment Required to Prune Crab Apple
For heavy pruning, you’ll need to cut back thick branches along with the thin ones. Pruning saw or chain saw is ideal for cutting thick branches. They are fast, powerful, and perform the whole task quickly, but for precision, choose hand saws.
Prune heightened shoots and unwanted stem that are over the top of the canopy of the tree by using a pair of telescoping loppers.
How to Prune Crab Apple?
The most effective way to prune is by starting from the bottom. This way, you can ensure nothing goes amiss. Suckers are the first thing that you’ll encounter that grow around the base of the tree. Cut them back from the point you see them emerging from the ground.
Next, you’ll encounter water sprouts that arise from the vertical branches. Prune them back using a sharp pair of pruning shears at the base. There is no saving the parts that are infested with fire blight, so annihilate the branch that has caught this disease. Scabs, rust, and powdery mildew are the other diseases that can affect the tree. You can control them by pruning away the affected branches.
Lastly, comes the aesthetic aspect, which includes pruning the tree to maintain the desired shape. We recommend you keep it to a minimum, as too much pruning can adversely affect the growth. The trick is to prune the tree in a way that branches become less crowded while removing any dead and diseased parts.
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