Spring Snow Fruitless Crab Tree - Ask Extension
We have a spring snow fruitless crab apple tree. about 14 years old. For the first time ever it produced small crab apples this year and we are wonde...
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Spring Snow Fruitless Crab Tree #774349
Asked October 05, 2021, 8:36 PM EDT
We have a spring snow fruitless crab apple tree. about 14 years old. For the first time ever it produced small crab apples this year and we are wondering why? Is it likely to continue? And if so, is there anything we can do to prevent it from happening as we would rather not have the apples in the yard and flower bed? Also is that a fungus or moss on the bark of the tree
Thank you
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
If it only produced fruit on one branch that branch may have reverted back to wild type. It is called a sport and can be pruned out. They occasionally have a few fruits and may not have any next year. There is also a spray that removes all the fruit called Florel.
The blotches on the trunk are lichens and do not harm the tree.
