Crab Apple Thread

[defra]

I did until it dried out once. It was back around August and the watering system just didn’t get it well enough.

Hmm mine gets water by hand but ive could have missed once and i keep it in a full sun spot too after august it lost allot of leaves so i think they shared the same fate thnx for the replies!

 

[Victorim]

Sorry, nothing impressive from me but have 2 mal silvs in the making:

First is was a less than pencil thick seedling I got back in Feb. Waiting for leaf drop before cutting back. Super mild Autumn.


Second is a chunky late collected trunk. Hoping it will explode in the spring.

 

[Paulpash]

Here's mine - 6 ish years into growing out the upper half of the tree ..

IMG_20171016_143604_DRO by Paul Pashley, on Flickr

 

[coachspinks]

I just read the other thread....a couple of questions. Do they back bud well? When to repot? Before flowering or after?

 

[ghues]

I just read the other thread....a couple of questions. Do they back bud well? When to repot? Before flowering or after?

Back bud....hhhhmmmmm.....see second photo in post #42, after a significant chop...seems too. Never had flowers on the Pacific Crab that I have but have repotted in spring, just as it’s waking up, with no issues. Well protected after that repot just in case with get a late spring freeze which happens from time to time.
Cheers G.

 

[coachspinks]

Thanks, I thought that was what I was seeing.

 

[BonsaiButler]

Here's mine - 6 ish years into growing out the upper half of the tree ..

IMG_20171016_143604_DRO by Paul Pashley, on Flickr

Great movement. Would love to see it without leaves

 

[GailC]

Apples back bud like crazy, at least they have for me. I've repotted just before bud break and after flowering, they came through like champs both times.

 

[Paulpash]

Great movement. Would love to see it without leaves

It's had it's yearly hard cut back into old wood - primaries are almost done - time to build secondaries on some branches - need ramification to reduce leaf size. Crabapple is a great backbudder if you cut back hard in the dormant period. It's the only way to build a compact tree. Sacrifice first - you then have 3 delights - flowers, fruit and winter image.

 

[coachspinks]

Do you cut it back in the middle of winter or just before the buds start opening?

 

[Paulpash]

Do you cut it back in the middle of winter or just before the buds start opening?

I cut back now - crabs are very hardy. I've never known any branch to die back - even when I chopped half of it off. I have several in the ground that have been cut to a few inches above soil level. They are basically flowering elms ...

 

[coachspinks]

Thanks!

 

[defra]

I cut back now - crabs are very hardy. I've never known any branch to die back - even when I chopped half of it off. I have several in the ground that have been cut to a few inches above soil level. They are basically flowering elms ...

Thnx i think mine can use some chops too !

 

[Rjoyce]

Here are my two mame-size crabs. I just repotted them and they are starting to push leaves. I have another larger tree that needs repotting this spring, but it is currently under about a foot of snow.
View media item 4500
View media item 4502

 

[John in Toledo]

Here we go. Documenting the start. Arrived today. Three malusxzuma var Calocarpa
1 in colander, 1 in pot (on top of a perforated coffee can lid) - white pot, 1 in ground (hanging out temporarily in the green pot until Toledo ground thaws).

 

[A. Gorilla]

Never had a carving project. This would seem to be a good prospect. Feral suburbadori. I hope the pale pink flowers come back eventually.

 

[A. Gorilla]

Another feral crab from the ditch out back

 

[John in Toledo]

Another feral crab from the ditch out back

Feral crab! Love the way that sounds.

 

[sdavis]

Never had a carving project. This would seem to be a good prospect. Feral suburbadori. I hope the pale pink flowers come back eventually.

Soil is pure pumice?

 

[A. Gorilla]

It’s a random mix of pumice, “growstone” and perlite. Using up odds and ends on hand