Pruning is an important way to maintain the size, shape, and health of a crabapple tree
Crabapple trees are versatile and usually easy to take care of. They don’t need a lot of big-scale pruning to put on a beautiful show of flowers and fruit every year.
There will be times when crabapple trees will benefit from some pruning. This will mostly involve light pruning to get rid of diseased or broken branches and shape the tree in a way that looks good and fits in with the rest of your backyard.
That is when knowing both how and when to prune crabapple trees correctly comes to the fore. Any crabapple tree needs to be pruned at the right time of year and with the right tools. It’s also important to know which branches to cut and when to do it.
Crab apple trees are a popular choice for gardens and landscapes. They produce beautiful blossoms in spring and attractive fruit in fall. With proper pruning, crab apples can thrive for years to come. But when is the best time to prune these ornamental trees? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about when to prune crab apple trees.
Why Pruning is Important
Pruning is an essential part of crab apple tree care. It helps maintain the tree’s shape, remove diseased or damaged branches, and promote fruit production. Pruning encourages new growth and allows sunlight and air to penetrate the canopy. This results in healthy trees that produce abundant flowers and fruit.
Neglecting to prune crab apples can allow the trees to become overgrown and congested Too much dense growth creates an environment susceptible to disease and pests It also prevents air circulation and causes interior branches to become shaded and unproductive. Pruning is vital for crab apples to thrive.
When to Prune Crab Apples
Crab apple trees should be pruned when they are dormant, before new growth emerges in late winter or very early spring. The ideal time is between late winter and just before bud break.
Pruning when dormant allows the tree to direct all its energy into healing pruning wounds and preparing for spring growth, rather than diverting energy into leaf and flower production. It also makes it easier to see the tree’s branching structure without leaves obstructing the view.
Avoid Mid to Late Winter Pruning
It’s best to avoid pruning in the coldest part of winter when extremely frigid temperatures can damage freshly cut branches. Pruning too early also runs the risk of encouraging new growth that could be damaged by winter cold snaps. Wait until the worst of winter has passed before pruning.
Don’t Prune in Early Fall
Pruning crab apples in early fall can trigger new growth just as the tree is going dormant for winter. The tender new shoots are vulnerable to early frosts and may not have time to harden off properly before winter dormancy. This can increase winter injury to the tree. Late summer pruning is also not advised for the same reasons.
After Flowering is Too Late
While light pruning and deadheading spent blossoms can be done after peak flowering, avoid any major corrective pruning after spring bloom time Removing too much growth immediately after flowering stresses the tree during its peak energy usage period. Heavy pruning is best saved for the dormant season
Regional Pruning Timelines
The ideal pruning window for crab apple trees can vary somewhat depending on your USDA plant hardiness zone. Here are some general guidelines:
- Zones 3-4: Prune in early spring once the worst of winter has passed.
- Zones 5-6: Prune in late winter, before spring growth begins.
- Zones 7-8: Prune in mid to late winter.
- Zones 9-10: Prune in late winter/early spring.
Check for signs of swelling buds to determine when spring growth will commence in your area. Prune just before the buds swell and begin opening. Crab apples grown in warmer zones may also benefit from a light summer pruning to open up the canopy and improve air circulation.
How to Prune Crab Apple Trees
Follow these tips for pruning crab apple trees:
Clean, Sharp Tools
Clean tools prevent the spread of disease between branches. Use bypass pruners, loppers, and pruning saws that make smooth, clean cuts. Sanitize tools before and after use.
Remove Suckers & Water Sprouts
Suckers are straight shoots that emerge from the rootstock below the graft union. Water sprouts grow off branches at sharp angles. Remove all suckers and water sprouts to prevent congestion.
Clear Out Diseased Wood
Prune out any branches or twigs that are dead, damaged, or diseased. Cut them off at their point of origin or back to healthy wood. Prevent the spread of infections.
Open Up the Canopy
Crab apples often have dense growth. Remove crossing, rubbing, and inward facing branches to open up the canopy for better air flow and light penetration.
Maintain Shape & Size
Remove branches that are growing outside the natural shape of the tree. Lightly trim long, leggy branches to encourage fullness. Remove low branches for clearance if needed.
Cut Back to a Bud
Make pruning cuts just above an outward facing bud or branch collar. This encourages growth in an outward direction.
Limit Removal
Never prune more than one-third of the tree’s branches to avoid stressing the plant. Take your time and assess the branch structure before cutting.
Disinfect Tools
Wipe tools with rubbing alcohol after each cut to prevent transmitting diseases between branches. Keep tools clean throughout the pruning process.
Pruning Young vs. Mature Crab Apples
Pruning needs can vary depending on the age and developmental stage of the crab apple tree:
Young Trees
Prune to train young crab apples into a strong structure. Remove competing leaders to favor a central leader. Head back top growth by about a third to promote branching.
Mature Trees
Focus on maintenance pruning to remove dead or damaged branches, open up the canopy, and maintain size on mature trees. Avoid heavy pruning of large branches.
Overgrown Trees
Rejuvenation pruning may be needed on overgrown, neglected trees. This involves cutting mature stems down to vigorous new shoots near the trunk. Spread out rejuvenation pruning over 2-3 years.
Avoiding Common Pruning Mistakes
Some common crab apple pruning errors to avoid:
- Heavy pruning that removes too much of the canopy at once
- Pruning in winter, early fall, or after spring flowering
- Leaving branch stubs rather than cutting back to a bud or branch collar
- Failing to sanitize pruning tools between cuts
- Not pruning young trees early on to establish good form
- Allowing suckers from the rootstock to proliferate
Aftercare For Pruned Trees
Provide aftercare to help pruned crab apple trees recover:
- Apply pruning sealer to cuts over 1 inch wide
- Water deeply after pruning to aid the tree’s recovery
- Stake branches if necessary to prevent damage in windy areas
- Remove sprouts or shoots below the graft union throughout the year
- Monitor for signs of disease and treat issues promptly
- Delay fertilizing until 4-6 weeks after pruning
The Takeaway on Pruning Crab Apples
Timing is critical when it comes to pruning crab apple trees. For best results, prune annually during late winter or very early spring before bud break. Avoid pruning during peak winter cold or during spring flowering and growth. Proper technique, from using clean tools to cutting to the branch collar, is also key. With a basic understanding of when and how to prune crab apples, you can help keep your trees shapely, productive, and healthy for years to come.
How to prune trained crabapple trees
Cut to an outward-facing bud when pruning crabapple trees( credit: Future)
Crabapples can be grown in trained form, for example as cordon, fan, or espalier trees. Annual pruning when they are young and developing will form the shape. The exact trimming technique may depend whether you are starting from scratch or have got a pre-trained crabapple. For example, you can get a pre-trained tree, such as this Sargent Crabapple Espalier Tree at Nature Hills.
See below for a general guide of establishing trained crabapple trees:
- When you plant an espalier crabapple tree, cut the stem up to just above the first wire or support it will be trained to. Remove any other branches that are growing from the stem the next year and cut the central stem just above the next wire. Also, tie two horizontal branches in place. From then on, you do the same things every year until the espalier reaches the right height. Then it needs to be pruned every winter and summer, just like you would with an espalier apple tree. The winter trim shapes the tree and gets rid of dead, damaged, or diseased wood. The summer prune lets light and air in to help the fruit ripen.
- When you plant cordon crabapple trees, the first thing you should do is cut all the side shoots back to four inches and cut the main stem in half. After that, each summer cut back any new stems to three leaves and any side shoots that are already there to about 1-2 inches.
- If you are planting a young tree that doesn’t have any branches yet, cut back the main stem when you plant it. The next spring, cut back any arms by half to a bud that faces outward. Every spring, cut off a third of any new growth until you have a frame of 8–10 separate branches. When you prune an established fan, cut new shoots to three leaves and existing shoots to one leaf each. Also, every winter, get rid of any branches that are getting in the way.
Crabapple pruning – how to get the timing right
The best time to prune crabapples is when they are dormant in late winter or early spring. To be exact, this means you can prune from the end of January to the beginning of April in most of the US. If you want to prune your trees, you should wait until the worst of winter is over and not do it before it gets really cold.
Crabapples may be very low maintenance trees for a backyard. If you do want to trim your crabapples, though, here are some tips from plant experts that will help you do it right.
Pruning crabapple trees in the harshest winter conditions is inadvisable( credit: Getty s/MireXa)
How to Prune a Crabapple Tree
When should crabapple trees be pruned?
The time for crabapple pruning is when the tree is dormant, but when the possibility of severely cold weather has passed. This means pruning should be done in late winter or early spring, depending on your local climate and temperatures.
How to prune a crabapple tree?
Prune your crabapple trees by using the best pruning tools only. You can find pruning secateurs online and perform the job quickly and neatly. Enjoy your freshly pruned trees and happy gardening!! Crabapple trees add aesthetic value in any garden space. Learn how and when to prune a crabapple tree for lush blooms every year.
Can crab apple trees be pruned?
When you prune crab apple trees, it is advisable to be cautious and not get too carried away with the pruning shears or pruning saw. The trees can cope with a heavy pruning if required, but it is not recommended, and any large work should be done over a period of years. ‘Moderation is key’, says Alex Testel from Frugal Frontier.
How do you care for a crabapple tree?
Both suckers and water sprouts can drain energy from the tree and should be removed. Finally, thin out any crowded areas to improve air circulation and light penetration. Pruning can have a significant impact on a crabapple tree’s flowering and fruit production.