![]() I was brought up in woodland and so am familiar with its qualities. Walking down the slope in front of the house that first spring, we soon heard that it is the wood below us that provides the haven for birds. As we moved here in winter it took a while to realise that bird song comes only from a distance and from the refuge of the hedges, which run along the lane and the field margins. Only the hollies by the milking barn and a pair of old plums in the hedge alongside the house stood sentinel, catching the wind and the rummage of seasonal blackbirds and pigeons. As trunks swell, slacken off tree ties to allow for the extra girth.When we arrived here, the house sat alone on the hill. Cut these right back to where they emerge or they will eventually detract from the overall shape and health of your tree. Watch out for suckers – long, straight shoots that emerge from the ground some distance from the trunk – and water shoots, which are straight growths emerging from the crown itself. Complete your pruning on mild winter days, and always before June when many of the flowers for next year are initiated. Occasionally, the top may need to be opened out a little to let in more air and light. Once mature, pruning is simply a question of cutting away any crossing, diseased or dying branches to keep the crown healthy. As your tree establishes, it is likely that no pruning at all will be needed. Pruning crab apple treesĬrab apples are the perfect tree for gardeners starting out with top fruit as they require very little pruning. But, usually trees are of a medium size, reaching around 4m-5m in height, check the variety you have to give a better indication of what to expect. It’s hard to say exactly how big crab apples will grow. Ample water applied less frequently encourages the roots to reach down further to find available moisture, thereby helping trees to cope with future dry periods. Only irrigate in dry weather and give a generous soaking every two weeks or so. In the first year it is likely that crab apples will need watering to help them along. In future years, a mulch can be applied in mid-spring to top up nutrient levels and lock in soil moisture that has built up over the winter. Keep the mulch away from the central trunk. This will help to keep weeds down and adds a further boost of nutrients to the young crab apple tree in its critical early stages of growth. Immediately after planting, it is worth adding a 3-5cm layer of organic mulch. Make sure your sapling remains upright and won’t rock back and forth in the wind too much. Knock in a sturdy stake close to the tree trunk and attach it using a rubber tie. Most crab apple trees will need some support while they establish themselves. Any graft union should also be well above ground level.Ĭaring for your Crab Apples plants + problems ![]() Make sure that the new soil level matches the soil mark on the stem. Give trees a thorough watering to settle the earth. Spread the shoots evenly and refill with the soil, lightly pressing down with your boot as you go. To plant a bare-root crab apple, dig a hole into your prepared ground that is big enough to accommodate the roots without them bending. Nurseries will dispatch their stock when it’s time to plant, so don’t worry if you do not receive your tree immediately after ordering. Potted crab apples may be planted at any time of year, so long as soil conditions are suitable – not frozen or too wet.īare-root trees should be planted in autumn or early winter as soon as they are dormant. Preparing the ground for growing crab applesĬrab apple trees will arrive bare-rooted or grown in containers. Try a specimen tree in a lawn and enjoy the very best of its good looks and fruity haul. So why else should grow-your-own enthusiasts dedicate their time to a crab apple? Well, if the April sprays of pink, red, or white flowering crab apple blossoms aren’t enough, then their glorious autumn tints certainly will be.Ī small tree will yield up to 10kg of crab apple fruit and any spares will hang on through the winter to keep hungry birds fed. They also make a refreshing homemade wine that is lip-smackingly moreish, or can be added to cider or infused to make crab apple gin. While the fresh fruits are perhaps too hard and bitter-tasting to enjoy as a snack, they are perfect for preserves – forming a delicious jelly that’s an ideal addition to cooked meats or a ploughman’s. Often grown purely for its incredible springtime display, this neat little tree also forms petite apples that can be turned to a number of uses in the kitchen. Not many of our crops can claim to combine truly outstanding visual appeal with their edible traits, but the humble crab apple manages just that.
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