How to Prune a Flowering Crabapple Tree
Of all the ornamental trees available to gardeners and landscapers, few offer the variety of shape, size and flower color that flowering crab apple trees do. According to Landscape America.com, there are over 35 species and 700 cultivars of these spring-blooming beauties. Flowering crab apple trees are favorites of gardeners in the North and Midwest, where other species of flowering ornamental trees don't tolerate cold winter temperatures and winds as readily. While crab apples don't require a lot of pruning, some is necessary every year to keep these beautiful trees at their best. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizing gel
- Cloth or towel
- Bypass pruners
- Loppers
- Pruning saw
Instructions
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Sterilize pruning tools before use. Wet a cloth or towel with rubbing alcohol or gel hand sanitizer and rub the blades, hinges and handles of the tools with the sanitizer. Allow the sanitizing agent to set for at least 15 seconds before wiping dry. If you prune any diseased wood from your tree, re-sanitize after each cut.
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Inspect your flowering crab apple tree for water sprouts. These are thin branches that grow rapidly from sturdier branches, usually straight up. Prune any water sprouts you find, making your cuts about 1/4 inch from the base of the water sprout.
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Look at the base of your tree's trunk. Suckers should be pruned from this area. Suckers are small shoots and branches that sprout from the roots or the base of the tree trunk. Suckers can be pruned any time, so if some return later, you can prune them without worry.
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Check your flowering crab apple for any damaged, dead or diseased branches and prune them. If you find a branch that is crossing, or wrapping around another branch, remove it.
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Tips & Warnings
Prune flowering crab apple trees no later than June 1. According to Colorado State University Extension, by mid June to July, new flower buds have already set, and pruning your tree after June 1 will result in reduced flowering the next spring.
Never prune a tree that is touching or near a power line--consult with your utility company instead.
