Crab Apple Tree - Pruning Advice

Posts

• AnniD Posts: 12,585

  March 2020

  *Bump* for any pruning experts 

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• robairdmacraignil Posts: 782

  March 2020 edited March 2020

  Since the crab apple is grown more for looking nice than the fruit being easy to pick I think it is just a matter of personal taste. Do you want a taller tree with a more natural shape or would you think it will fit in the area better if kept a bit shorter. My first crab apple has only been pruned to remove diseased branches and removing any crossing branches but I want it to get as tall as possible to provide a bit of shelter to the rest of the garden where I have it growing. Monty Donn was talking about apple and pear pruning last night and mentioned about trying to create an open structure with gaps in between branches that a pigeon could fly through but I think the aim of the open structure is to help keep the fruit healthy so on a crab apple maybe this is not as important. I think you should just go with what you think looks nice. On the topic of youtube videos I was shocked at how many people have viewed this one I posted when pruning one of my Gala apple trees.
  

  https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  

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• Dovefromabove Posts: 88,147

  March 2020

  I agree ... but remember that pruning at this time of year encourages growth so you may get a loaf of those whippy water shoots and it could end up looking a bit like a bog brush. 

  
  

  Major structural pruning should be done in the dormant period ... Nov Dec Jan ish. 

  
  Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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