Why Doesn't a Crab Apple Tree Flower?

Many gardeners prize crab apple trees for their flowers and ornamental fruit. When the flowers fail, however, it is a sign that something is wrong with the tree.

Fertilizer

Crab apple trees planted in poor soil may not be able to flower. According to Landscape America, a fertilizer with a 25-5-10 balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can help restore the soil to a healthy range.

Branches

If the gardener allows a crab apple tree to grow too many branches, or does not clear away dead and diseased branches each year, it can prevent the tree from producing flowers and pave the way for diseases. Proper pruning is important.

Improper Pruning

Trees pruned after July are often unable to flower, because the buds and branches that would have flowered were cut off. It is important to prune in early spring to prevent this from occurring.

Age

Young crab apple trees do not bloom until they reach maturity, which can take several years, depending on the species. Even with careful pruning, a crab apple tree will not produce flowers until it has matured.

Cold

Inclement weather, such as a cold snap in the spring, can damage the flower buds and stop the tree from flowering. Flower buds are especially sensitive to extreme weather changes.

References

• Landscape America: Flowering Crabapple Tree
• Nodak: Crabapple Questions

Resources

• Colorado State University: Flowering Crabapple Trees