Crab Apple Pruning

[TonySoprano]

I have a young golden Hornet crab planted last year , it has a forked trunk. Should I prune it to one central leader or just leave it ?.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I'd prune it to one leader. Severe crotch angles like that will lead to splitting later with fruit loads on the tree. I did that with all of our apple & crab trees, which gave us good results. One camp member even told me I'd kill the one tree by pruning off the other leader. It's been a beautiful tree ever since my pruning. Big, tall & well-shaped.

I learned that method from others on this forum, some of whom don't post anymore, sadly. The credit is theirs.

 

[Barndog56]

I'd remove the one on the right side. If there aren't any branches above the fencing you can notch right above an existing bud to promote branch growth.

 

[bigboreblr]

I'd remove the right one too. Look up notching an apple tree. You can make a lateral branch appear where you want to.

Make some of those notches at 4 to 5ft. Then prune the leader 2 feet above that. Where you prune that leader is the next step of lateral branches. LEave it too tall and there's a long run between branches.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I'd remove the one on the right side. If there aren't any branches above the fencing you can notch right above an existing bud to promote branch growth.

I'd remove the right one too. Look up notching an apple tree. You can make a lateral branch appear where you want to.

Make some of those notches at 4 to 5ft. Then prune the leader 2 feet above that. Where you prune that leader is the next step of lateral branches. LEave it too tall and there's a long run between branches.

These guys are dialed in. Good info here. I've also notched leaders to make branches appear where I wanted them. I learned that trick about 12 years ago on here too, thanks to those earlier posters. Videos online now show how to notch.

 

[bigboreblr]

I'm not sure if crabapples with small fruit should have more lateral branches than regular apples.

 

[Telemark]

Prune the one on the right. If you don't have any rootstock coming this year, I'll buy the scion wood off you.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I'm not sure if crabapples with small fruit should have more lateral branches than regular apples.

I don't prune crab apples the same way as regular apple trees. I mainly take out water sprouts, crossing/rubbing branches, and damaged branches. Our own Sugar Tyme & Profusion crab trees in our yard produce loads of fruit every year. My neighbor across the street has never pruned his bird-sized crab at all, and every year it's loaded with small, 3/8" dark red crab apples. His tree is very "limb-y." Just some info - FWIW.

 

[VTer]

I have stopped pruning my crabs due to bears. Unfortunately they do a lot of pruning for me so I hope they decide to leave me a leader. I cut the crossers, dead stuff and branches that are rubbing and hope I will have something left after the bears prune.

 

[bigboreblr]

I might be bad for pruning advice, I get clipper happy.....

But, you need to make a shape of a tree. Easier to change it sooner than later.

I do remove the sins, then take it from there. cross, damage, competing leaders, whips.