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Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Trees that are shaded develop an open canopy instead of a more attractive, dense growth habit. Shaded trees produce fewer flowers and fruit, and they are more susceptible to disease. Dig the hole for the tree as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.
When should I plant a crab apple tree?
The best time to plant a crabapple tree is in the spring or fall, when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool. (See What to Plant in Your Fall Garden). However, if you avoid freezing temperatures and extreme heat, you can plant a crabapple almost any time of year.
What do I need to plant a crabapple tree?
Light: Crabapples do best in full sun. Soil: Crabapples are adaptable; but rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil is ideal. Water: Crabapples need regular water (especially the first year), but do better in dry rather than wet soil, so avoid wet or low lying planting sites.
What kind of soil do crabapple trees need?
Flowering crabapples are adaptable but thrive in rich loam type soil (a combination of clay, silt, and sand). Regardless of soil type, good drainage is a must for tree health. Crabapples grow best in a moist, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Excessively moist areas and low spots should be avoided.
How fast does a crabapple tree grow?
Many crabapple cultivars grow at a greater rate of 13 to 24 inches per year. The flowering tea crabapple (Malus hupehensis), hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, grows at a rate of 24 inches per year.
Where is the best place to plant a crabapple tree?
Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Trees that are shaded develop an open canopy instead of a more attractive, dense growth habit. Shaded trees produce fewer flowers and fruit, and they are more susceptible to disease. Dig the hole for the tree as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.
Do you need two crabapple trees?
Do you need two crabapple trees to produce fruit? Yes, all apple trees need a suitable pollinator to set fruit, and crabapples are no different. There are certain varieties of crabapple that do not produce fruit, but all of the cultivars that do need cross pollinators.
How often do you water a crabapple tree?
Raking up and destroying leaves in fall is also helpful for disease prevention. Watering: As with most plants, crabapples will benefit from at least an inch of moisture each week. This is particularly crucial during the first year after planting.
How often should you water a new crabapple tree?
When to water They should be watered at planting time and at these intervals: 1-2 weeks after planting, water daily. 3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days. After 12 weeks, water weekly until roots are established.
How do you take care of a crabapple tree?
During its first year of growth, crabapple trees need regular watering. Keep the soil evenly moist over the root zone, about an inch per week. Once it is well established, crabapples are very drought tolerant and shouldn’t need supplemental watering unless the season is extremely dry.
What do I feed my crabapple tree?
A general 10-10-10 fertilizer is a good choice for feeding a crabapple tree. Another recommendation is to use 1 to 2 pounds (0.5-1 kg.) of fertilizer per 100 square feet (9.29 sq. m.)Sep 2, 2021.
Do crabapples need full sun?
Light. If you have other trees on your property, make sure the crabapple is not too shaded, will as it needs at least six hours of sun a day to guarantee ample blossoming and fruiting. Some cultivars can tolerate a partial shade location.
Does crabapple grow in shade?
Plant crabapples in full sun and where other nearby trees will not shade them excessively. Crabapples flower and fruit best in full sun, but can tolerate light shade. Where excessively shaded, crabapples become more open, flower and fruit less, and experience more problems with powdery mildew.
How long does it take a crabapple tree to bear fruit?
How long does it take crabapple trees to produce fruit? The climate and conditions in which your tree is growing will dictate how quickly it will fruit, but two-to-five years is a good range to plan on.
How long do crabapple trees bloom?
Peak crabapple bloom time is mid-spring to late spring, depending on regions and varieties. The average flowering period is about 10 days, although very hot days or windy conditions with rain can cut this down to 5-6 days. Double-flowering crabapples generally have a longer period of blooms, up to 12 days.
How tall does crabapple tree get?
Mature Height/Spread There is a wide variety of tree sizes and forms of crabapples. The height and width of the crown or canopy can range from 10 to 25 feet. Most are trees of various forms, but some are mounded and shrubby.
How do you fertilize a crabapple tree?
Inorganic liquid fertilizers are injected directly into the ground to provide an immediate source of nutrients for your crabapple. Begin your injections 2 to 3 feet from the trunk of your crabapple tree and make an injection every 2 feet in a circle around the trunk. Inject your fertilizer 6 to 9 inches deep.
How close to a house can you plant a crabapple tree?
Planting Near Buildings Plant crabapple trees about 8 to 10 feet away from buildings or garden walls and 6 to 8 feet from the corner of a building. This spacing works for single-story houses and barns where, at maturity, the canopy will extend over the structure.
