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Shaping crab apple tree
Mr. Vine Eye
Posts: 2,394
Morning all,
I planted a crab apple tree this year - April or May time. It's survived the summer and looks healthy.
however I don't like the shape of it at the moment, it looks odd - seemingly due to the way it was pruned before selling.
It doesn't have a proper leader that appears to have been had hacked leaving a short stump - the uppermost branch curves forward like a banana. Then there are 3 short lateral branches from the main stem - 2 are horizontal - almost like they've been espaliered, the other one starts horizontal then curves upwards. All of these 4 branches are covered in fruiting spurs although none of them fruited so can't have been pollinated.
the branches start about 4 1/2 feet off the ground.
judging by the thickness of the main stem I'm guessing it's at least 2 years old maybe 3.
Here's a crude drawing of the tree viewed from the side and front
This just looks like a really odd starting point for a tree if I just leave it to grow like this on its own.
should I let it shoot out in spring and prune it the following winter or should I prune it this winter by hacking it off just below the branches?
I planted a crab apple tree this year - April or May time. It's survived the summer and looks healthy.
however I don't like the shape of it at the moment, it looks odd - seemingly due to the way it was pruned before selling.
It doesn't have a proper leader that appears to have been had hacked leaving a short stump - the uppermost branch curves forward like a banana. Then there are 3 short lateral branches from the main stem - 2 are horizontal - almost like they've been espaliered, the other one starts horizontal then curves upwards. All of these 4 branches are covered in fruiting spurs although none of them fruited so can't have been pollinated.
the branches start about 4 1/2 feet off the ground.
judging by the thickness of the main stem I'm guessing it's at least 2 years old maybe 3.
Here's a crude drawing of the tree viewed from the side and front
This just looks like a really odd starting point for a tree if I just leave it to grow like this on its own.
should I let it shoot out in spring and prune it the following winter or should I prune it this winter by hacking it off just below the branches?
East Yorkshire
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