Flowering Crabapple Trees Are Amazing!

Sargent Crabapple Flower

Small Crabapple Fruit

Crabapples are totally amazing, small to large ornamental trees. Most crabapples bloom during the month of May. It is common for the flower buds to be a shade of pink and open to pink or white flowers. These flowers give way to fruit ripening between July and November. The fruit varies from as small as ¼" to 2" diameter. Small fruits persist longer into the winter allowing for color in the winter landscape.

Crabapples need full sun, well drained soil and a slightly acid soil (PH5.5 to 6.5).

Crabapples like any other trees must be selected first based on their shape and mature size. Here are the basic forms to consider:

1. Shrub form (up to 15' tall)

2. Oval (taller than wide)

3. Upright (25 to 30' tall)

4. Rounded or spreading (wider than tall)

5. Columnar (tall & narrow)

6. Weeping Habit (branches growing down)

Many of the older Crabapple cultivars have some or all of the known Crabapple disease problems.

COMMON DISEASES

Apple Scab causes spotting of the leaves. It is most serious in cool and wet springs. The most susceptible cultivars will almost completely premature defoliation during early summer. Apple Scab is caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. This fungus overwinters on infected leaves. In early spring, spores of this fungus are shot into the air when the leaves are wet. The spores are carried by wind to the new leaves as they appear in early spring. Further infections from the summer spores can continue late into the summers or early fall.

Cedar-Apple rust is also a leaf spot disease but less serious. It is more common on native crabapple cultivars. This disease occurs in areas where native junipers wild grow. Select resistant cultivars for your landscape.

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that causes a white to gray substance to form on the leaves during wet humid weather conditions. This disease is most common in late summer and early fall or where poor air circulation occurs. Powdery Mildew is not a life threatening disease, but it certainly makes the tree unsightly.

Fireblight is a serious bacterial disease. It causes the branch tips to turn black. The old dead tips must be removed to help keep the disease from spreading. The pruning shears should be dipped into alcohol after each cut. It not properly treated, the pruning shears can spread this disease.

In conclusion, it is a must that you select a disease resistant cultivar for a more
beautiful landscaped yard. The E-Book "Amazing Crabapple Trees" will provide you with a complete selection of disease resistant trees for you to make your choice.

"Amazing Crabapple Trees" E-book By Lawrence L. Hoyle.
https://www.amazing-crabapple-trees.com

My main website is https://www.web-landscape-design-ideas.com
Online Landscape Design Services for Homeowners and Landscape Contractors.
Designs in 40 states since 2003.

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