How to Root Yellow Crab Apple From Plant Cuttings
The yellow crab apple, a relatively small, ornamental tree known for its small apple-shaped fruits, makes an excellent addition to nearly any landscape. It is cold hardy, drought resistant and sends showers of blooms in spring, apples in the summer and red and yellow foliage in the fall. Its size makes it versatile, and its foliage provides excellent shade. Propagating new yellow crab apple trees from cuttings is a simple procedure that can not only cut your gardening budget costs, but also give you a new tree to enjoy. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Rooting Crab Apple Cuttings
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Take a cutting. Cuttings are taken from yellow crab apple trees by two methods. The first is by cutting a small piece from a limb or branch that has at least 3 nodes. This method is used when the crab apple is in a semi-hardwood state, usually during the months of May through August. The second is by taking a root cutting from a sucker. Suckers are usually located near the trunk of the tree. Dig down until you find the roots and cut it from the main root.
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Apply rooting hormone to the cutting. Rooting hormone comes in both liquid and powder forms. Whichever you choose, apply the hormone according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Plant the cutting. Prepare a deep pot with nutrient-rich potting soil. Place the rooting hormone-treated cuttings directly into the dirt. For root cuttings, dig a small hole and gently cover the roots with soil, being careful not to dislodge the rooting hormone from the cut area. Do not water the cuttings, instead mist the top of the soil lightly.
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Keep the cuttings warm and provide them as much indirect sunlight as possible. Water them after the first week in the soil, and water them moderately as the soil appears dry. Watch for signs of rooting, such as an off shoot with leaves.
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Discard any failed cuttings. Failed cuttings will show no sign of rooting and will eventually whither. Leaving them in with healthy cuttings can introduce disease and rot, so they should be removed. Successful sprouts may be planted outdoors in the spring.
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