crabapples for grouse?

[Powder]

I hear people talking about how birds love the ornamental crabs and it got me thinking; Assuming grouse would eat them, what kind would you plant? I've seen lots of them around me in town that are small but they are still holding fruit. I would think I would want something that actually drops them in the fall.

I've got a nearly mile long 'driveway' into my cabin and it's on the western edge of the property and not very close to where we deer hunt or where my plots are. The road had some work done on it and I'm thinking of planting it in clover and the having several crabapple trees planted specifically for grouse.

 

[chummer]

I would want some that stay on the tree for winter. Grouse will eat them out of the tree and you won't loose them under snow. I have a few around that hang all winter but nothing eats them. I am sure there are some that are edible I just don't have any.

 

[sandbur]

Occasionally I see a partridge in my red splendor crab apples.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I planted a couple dozen crabapples specifically for grouse and they are all red splendor crabapples. They hang on the tree all winter and I've heard the grouse love them. I got my first fruit this year on a 4 year old tree, but I didn't see what ate the fruit. A guy I know has great luck drawing in winter grouse with these trees, so I'm attempting to do the same thing.

 

[rocksnstumps]

The turkey and wildlife groups have recommended red splendor, sargent, and siberian crabapples typically for birds. They all have persistent smaller fruits like 1/4" - 1/2" dia. They are also easily found and when purchased as bareroot whips can be very reasonable but expect some variability since usually not grafted. Another one that have heard good things about is Prairiefire, but I've only seen these offered as grafted and more $$. I have all the above planted but the Prairiefire is still too young to bear anything. These would all be great for grouse too. The red splendor is planted in a lot of state wildlife programs....

 

[rocksnstumps]

Another thought would be some of the hawthorns. Somebody else postetd recently on a variety they like. I have tons of these growing wild on my field edges and are bird favorites. Mine either drop or get wiped out before winter every year.

 

[chummer]

Partridge live in my Hawthorne trees all fall. They love them.

 

[Buckly]

I have several decorative flowering crabs in my lawn. Adam's and Robinson. They produce tons of fruit about 1/2 inch diameter. They are bird magnets and I see all types of birds in them plus they hang all winter so it's like having a birdfeeder you never have to fill. I'm sure grouse would love them if they were in the woods. The deer will eat them also if they can reach them and one year I had a bear that liked to camp out under the Robinson. I would compare the fruit to the size of Hawthorn but way more sugar content and produce 100 times more fruit.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

It was me that posted about the Washington hawthorns, Rocksnstumps ( ref. post # 6 ). We also have the small crabs that hang all winter. Chummer nailed it when he said having them stay on the tree keeps them above snow on the ground. Grouse will definitely eat them right out of the tree. If you want grouse to hang around ....... plant the hawthorns and small crabs. Remember ...... grouse numbers go in cycles, so if you aren't swamped with grouse right away, they may be in a " down " cycle. But I've never seen 2 trees better able to attract grouse than small crabs and Washington hawthorn. You won't be sorry !!

 

[chummer]

Found this pic from a couple years ago. It is a loaded Hawthorne. I have a ton of these around. They are loaded every year and all the fruit is consumed by something. They bloom middle of June so they have huge crops every year. There is a green fruit version that nothing eats but most are the red ones.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rocksnstumps]

Yes that is gobs of fruit on that Hawthorn!

Also for reference is a big red splendor at the UW Madison Arboretum. This tree is probably close to 30 ft tall. The camera case is about 4-1/2" for comparison

 

[Lot2Learn]

I'm doing some research on 'flowering crabs' for visual impact and non-deer wildlife value and bumped into this great chart that shows lots of great info, including general comments on disease resistance for flowering crabapples: https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/JFS_CRAB_CHART.pdf

Note: The chart is from an Oregon-based vendor located in zone 8a.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Adirondack and Prairie Fire are two good choices for the birds, both are reportedly extremely disease resistant.

 

[greyphase]

My Adirondack has been a reliable producer with no disease problems. I have an old Centurion crab that produces a heavy crop of small crabs every year without fail.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^^^^ We have a Centurion crab at camp too. It should put out it's first fruit this year - hopefully. I planted it for grouse, turkeys, birds. We have a total of 6 small crabs that are 1/4" to 5/8" dia. that keep the birdlife happy. Deer eat the drops and nip the low-hanging fruit too. Centurion is very DR too.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Yes that is gobs of fruit on that Hawthorn!

Also for reference is a big red splendor at the UW Madison Arboretum. This tree is probably close to 30 ft tall. The camera case is about 4-1/2" for comparison

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That's an impressive apple tree. I really like those giant, full sized apple trees. That could feed a flock of grouse or turkeys all winter.