Crab apple tree

Kayteduggan · April 2021

Hi, my neighbour planted this tree last year. She recently told me that it's a crab apple tree. It is literally inches from my fence. Is this going to cause me problems? Apart from the falling fruit which will land all over my path, which will attract wasps, (my biggest phobia), are the roots going to cause damage to my path? She doesn't care much. She has trees planted around the whole perimeter of her garden. She had a plant in the front which was growing through my fence. I pulled it all out and put silicone along each slat. She asked me what it was and I told her it was because her plant was breaking my fence. She ripped the plant out altogether. I have put some trellis on top of my fence and she's told me she's going to get some Clematis to grow up it. I've had enough now. Thanks.

Dovefromabove · April 2021

I really don't see how that's going to cause you any real problems. Your neighbour has removed the plant which you felt was damaging your fence and seems to have been considerate and chosen a variety which grows upwards rather than outwards. It'll be decades if ever before it's roots are large enough to do any damage to your garden, by which time the honey fungus which you have in your garden will probably have spread to hers and killed her trees, and I've never noticed wasps hanging around the tiny fruit on those ornamental crab apples.

You've posted about your own hawthorn tree and your Cheal's Weeping Cherry ... I thought you liked trees .....

Fire · April 2021

Wonderful that you will have a crab apple tree near by and clematis on your fence. Wonderful to have so many trees close by.

Kayteduggan · April 2021

Well actually it's not. I have my own garden with my own plants and trees to take care of. My neighbours trees are overhanging other peoples gardens and destroying their fences too. The neighbours at the back of her can't even go in their garden because of all the fallen apples. I have spent a lot of money making my garden nice. If I'd have wanted a Clematis growing on MY trellis, I would've planted my own. The roots off a bush that she used to have has damaged my path and now she's got rid of that and planted a crab apple tree there instead. I don't want rotten apples full of wasps all over my path. I wanted advice on whether she has planted a tree too near to my fence. Surely it should be more than a few inches away?

Dovefromabove · April 2021

It depends on the type of tree and it’s particular growth habit. There are some crab apples that are almost fastigiate.

Kayteduggan · April 2021

I do like trees but mine are planted away from any fences. I'm worried about any damage to my path / fence. She didn't like the bush she had growing there. She said it was taking over her garden. That's why she got rid of it. It wasn't for my sake. She has another apple tree in her garden. Can you make it out in the background? Is this the same kind of tree? It has big apples on it and they all fall off into a neighbours garden. If these apples are the same, there will be a lot and a lot of wasps right next to the seating area in my garden. I barely know anything about trees. They were my first 2 in June last year. Is there any way I can stop the fungus from spreading to other people's gardens? I wouldn't want that to happen.

Dovefromabove · April 2021

It looks as if it’s one of the ornamental crab apples with pretty blossom and small fruit usually hardly any bigger than a cherry. Usually recommended as being suitable for small gardens.

If as it looks it’s also an upright growing one rather than a more ‘tree shaped’ one I think your neighbour
has chosen a suitable tree and been pretty considerate of her neighbours in that regard. Perhaps it is a tad close, but only by a matter of a few inches. I can’t see that it will cause damage. I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about.

I hope you enjoy the blossom that will be appearing soon. 😊

Kayteduggan · April 2021

Thanks for your advice. It is really pretty. Different shades of pink & white x.

Dovefromabove · April 2021

I think you’ll grow to be quite glad it’s there ... apple blossom is lovely. I remember years ago there was a lovely talc scented with apple blossom. Don’t suppose you can get it now. It’s a traditional sort of country thing isn’t it? 😊

Dovefromabove · April 2021

Goodness me you can still get it ... how lovely ... I might have to order some

https://www.fragrancedirect.co.uk/kent-cosmetics-limited-apple-blossom-perfumed-talc-100g-0007563.html

😊

Astraeus · April 2021

It won't damage your paths.

It won't damage your fence.

You're more likely to find wasps in your garden because of your plants than next door's rotting windfall.

You're also more likely to have to tidy up your own garden because of bird and insect droppings than from anything emanating from next door.

Your neighbour is clearly somewhat conscientious having removed a plant which you advised her was a nuisance to you.

I hope that allays your concerns. In the absence of being able to live in a biobubble, your environment cannot be as sterile as you might like and neighbouring properties will influence your garden. It may be an overhanging branch but it may equally be bird life that you wouldn't have had otherwise. Those nuisance fruits will also prettify a boring fence and the tree will be awash with blossom in Spring in a way that a painted fence never will. I think it'll serve you well with many years of gardening ahead to embrace all that and probably start to enjoy your neighbour's clear designs on beautifying an otherwise ugly and hard boundary.

Crab apple tree

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