Crab Apple.....

Bonsai Basics · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:34 am Post subject: Crab Apple.....

Hello,

When I purchased my crab apple in April it was in flower and looked great, It has since developed it's fruit and these are turning red. My question is do I need to prune now or remove fruit, to ensure flowering next spring? Or will the fruit just drop and flowering occur anyway.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Many thanks!

Tuppence2 · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Crab Apple.....

I love crab apples. They have such lovely blossom. Will be interested to see the replies you get to this thread.

Stymie has information about Malus in the A-Z at the top of the BonsaiHelp page. Also found this on the net:

BONSAI CULTIVATION NOTES

POSITION Full sun. Provide good air circulation to discourage mildew problems. Crab Apples are very hardy though trees in shallow pots may need some frost protection.

WATERING Give plenty of water when fruiting.

FEEDING Feed fortnightly until flowering. Feeding after flowering may cause leaf growth at the expense of fruiting. If trees are in training and vigorous growth is required at the expense of fruit, continue to feed fortnightly, otherwise cease feeding until fruit are well developed. To protect the vigour of the tree, it is better not to allow the tree to fruit every two or three years as fruiting weakens the tree.

REPOTTING Annually in early Spring before budburst using a basic soil mix.

PRUNING In Spring prune back new shoots to one or two leaves. Trees should then be left unpruned until late Summer. Pruning must be undertaken by late August, otherwise vegetative growth is more likely to occur than flower buds for next year. Trees in training that require maximum growth can be left unpruned until leaf-fall.
If fruit are not required, dead-head flowers as they go over.

PROPAGATION Sow seed outdoors in Autumn. Cuttings of all wood-types in Autumn. Layering in Autumn if protected from frosts or in late-Spring.

PESTS AND DISEASES As with other native species such as Hawthorn and Oak, Crab Apples attract a wide range of insects and diseases, particularly Aphids, Red spider mites, caterpillars, apple scab and mildew.

STYLING Informal forms with single or multiple trunks in all sizes. Only small fruited varieties should be used for very small bonsai.

Good luck with your Malus.

Penny Smile

Dick · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: Crab Apple.....

Taking the fruit off doesn't affect flowering next year. Sometimes, I will prune off selected fruit so that it will maximize the appearance of the apple tree, but I generally leave the remaining fruit in place until they fall off naturally. When pruning a crabapple, there is a process. You do have to be careful not to remove the "spurs" from which the fruit/flowers grow. If you take them off that will insure that you will have less fruit/flowers next year. Generally, shortening the long shoots is all that's needed.

Good luck.