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Talkback: Crab apple trees

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
I've had a Weeping Japanese Crab Apple for so long it cheered up; the branches grow sideways instead of down giving it a lovely shape. Every year marauding squirrels strip off bunches of red apple supporting twigs, split open the small apples and eat the pips, discarding everything else. Few apples left now. Grrrr.

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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I would like to add to the five Malus listed. We bought one about 4/5 years ago called Everest and it has been a wonderful investment because of it's different stages throughout the year. first it is festooned with lovely white blossom, then good sized red/orange fruit covered with a bloom like a grape and finally the leaves provide a lovely display in the Autumn. On top of all that it attracts many Blackbirds which love the fruit, so all in all a tree worth having
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Brian H: A welcome addition to the list. Everest is indeed a fine tree.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have just planted a weeping Malus Royal Beauty
    I would like it to be about 1ft taller
    (7ft)will the tree naturally grow or would tying up or pruning the leader incoreage side shoots
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Scotchy: You are being very strict! luckily M.Royal Beauty is one of the very smallest Crabs. Yes, pruning the leader will encourage side shoots.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a malus Royal beauty crab apple tree, weeping variety, but it has grown a lot of side shoots and these are overshadowing the tree, is this the normal growth of the tree or should I be pruning it? Any thoughts gratefully received.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    The crab apples at Hilliers Arboretum are a sight to see and always inspire me to want to plant one in the garden, but never knew which to plant, thanks for the shortlist!
  • cc23cc23 Posts: 1

    I bought a crab apple tree 2 years ago, and it is in a large pot. Last year it had lots of leaves but no flowers. This year it started to blossom in March, but was then hit with cold and wet in April. All the blossom and leaves have fallen off, and I think it might be dead. is there any hope for it?

  • Caroline DonaldCaroline Donald Posts: 2

    I have a young crab apple. It flowered and fruited well last autumn so much so that it pulled the 3 young leader branches downwards. We staked it, harvested the apples and waited for pruning time. Do I just cut the top 3 branches back by 6 inches or so, to make sure that the tree does not develop a list to one side. I thought I had seen somewhere that you were not supposed to cut branches back, just prune unwanted branches off at the trunk. Can anyone help me with some advice?

     

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,032

    Usually pruning in the manner suggested, will just make those branches grow more, as pansy has said. I am not sure how best to get the desired effect.

    How can you lie there and think of England
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