Crab apples are small to medium-sized, deciduous
trees that are widely adapted and produce an abundance of flowers in
spring. There are more than 500 varieties.
About This Plant
Crab apples bloom in
early to mid-spring, producing masses of pink, red, or white flowers,
depending on the variety. Some also have attractive purplish red leaves.
Many types also produce small, red or yellow edible fruits that are
tart but excellent for jelly. Most crab apples grow 15 to 25 feet tall
and wide at maturity. Some weeping and dwarf forms grow less than 10
feet tall. Crab apples are susceptible to some of the same diseases as
apples, including apple scab, so select resistant varieties. The fruit
remains on the branches into fall, providing food for wildlife, and the
branch structures on many varieties provide interesting forms in winter.
Special Features
Four-season interest
Site Selection
Select a site with full sun and well-drained soil.
Planting Instructions
Plant in spring or
fall. Space plants 10 to 20 feet apart, depending on the expected
mature size of the variety. Dig a hole only as deep as the rootball and
two to three times as wide. If your soil is in very poor condition,
amend the soil you've removed from the hole with a small amount of
compost. Otherwise don't amend it at all. Carefully remove the tree from
the container and set it in the hole. Fill the hole half full with
soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
Let the water drain, then fill the remainder of hole with soil and water
thoroughly.
Care
Apply a layer of compost under the
tree each spring, spreading it out to the dripline (the area under the
outermost branches). Add a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and
control weeds, keeping mulch a few inches away from the tree trunk.
Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
Crab apples require little pruning once established. In late winter,
prune dead, diseased, and broken branches and trim off any sprouts that
arise at the base of the tree.
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