Is the fruit edible? Unlike apples, most crabapples are too tart and mouth-puckering to be eaten out of hand, but they are perfectly edible and often used to make jams and jellies. However, a crabapple has smaller, tarter fruit, ranging in size from ¼ inch to 2 inches in diameter.ĭo all crabapples bear fruit? While most flowering crabapples develop fruit, there are some “non-fruiting” cultivars that produce very small fruit or none at all. Both trees share the same genus ( Malus) and many of the same characteristics. Any branches that become defoliated due to disease usually leaf back out the following spring.Īre crabapple trees related to apple trees? Yes. These can be avoided by planting newer cultivars bred to resist these diseases and by replacing disease-prone trees with resistant varieties. Apple scab - a fungal disease that often develops in cool, wet springs - is the most serious problem and can cause leaf spotting and defoliation. Diseases:Īpple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew are the most common diseases to afflict crabapples, particularly non-resistant varieties. Get more pruning advice: Pruning a Crabapple Tree.
Trees need time to form callus over a wound, so it’s best to remove only the branches that need it. Pruning is best done in late winter or before flowering in early spring. These growths should be removed, along with any dead, diseased, or crowded branches. Crabapples are particularly prone to water sprouts (shoots that grow upward from tree branches) and suckers that form at the base of the tree, which can grow large enough to become additional trunks. Occasional pruning will help keep crabapple trees healthy and maintain their lovely silhouettes. However, if you notice poor blooming and fruit production, you can improve soil fertility by top dressing with compost in the spring or by applying a slow-release fertilizer before new growth emerges. If planted in good, moderately fertile soil, crabapples usually don’t need extra fertilization. To reduce watering frequency, apply a few inches of mulch around the base of the tree (but not touching the trunk) to help retain soil moisture. After the roots become established, you will only need to water during prolonged dry periods. The first year after planting, provide supplemental watering during dry weather so the tree receives at least 1 inch of water per week and up to 2 inches during hot spells.
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