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Crab apple pruning question

#1 · 28th June 2024, 7:17 pm

I put this crab apple in just over a year ago (it was about 2ft tall). It's grown well but I haven't pruned it (rightly or wrongly!). I have watered regularly and given it a regular seaweed feed but it is starting to get rather 'scraggly' with all of this years new growth and a few branches are drooping onto the ground. It does have fruit at the moment and I have removed some of them to lighten the weight a bit.

Is there anything I can/should do now as i know its not meant to be pruned until autumn?

I have done some research and watched Lee's video on pruning but the other question I had was the branches really do not seem to resemble any sort of goblet shape either! Help!!

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#2 · 1st July 2024, 2:30 pm

Hi @tankboy74

Thanks for your question about crab apple pruning. They can be a bit tricky as they produce so much fruit which can weight down the branches and cause some drama! Your picture didn't upload so if you could read that would be great, I can still advise though.

Even with a new 2ft tree, you do need to winter prune them each year to get the best out of them and control them, putting on too much leafy 'leggy' growth.

Here are my top tips for pruning crab apples:

Step 1: In late winter, when the tree is dormant, aim to remove any damaged, diseased, or crossing branches. This is the clear-out method, and it immediately results in a healthier, airier tree shape.

Step 2: After the clear out, cut back any long leggy branches to half if need be so they can cope with the fruit of the next year. All other branches take off 1/3 to help shape them.

Step 3: Compost or dry your branches to use for fire wood or for use in bug hotels.

Step 4: After fruiting, if you need to summer prune, you can do so. Wait until the crab apples are easy to pick off or until the birds have finished them, then do a maintenance prune, i.e. follow step 2 again to shape the tree.

That should set you right, Tankboy74, and don't worry about the open goblet; by following the above over time, you will naturally create it with your pruning!

All the best

Lee Garden Ninja

#3 · 1st July 2024, 4:15 pm

As always - great advice, thank you Lee.

I never knew you could do a summer prune and excellent idea about recycling the twigs for a bug hotel, would never have thought of that (even though theres two bug hotels right by the tree!).

I kept trying to upload a photo and thought it had worked but clearly not! I will try again here.

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