Pruning flowering crabapple - Ask Extension
I purchased a Brandywine Crabapple online last year. The leader is very dominant, with only a few side branches. This surprises me, since the photos I...
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Pruning flowering crabapple #862710
Asked March 28, 2024, 11:08 AM EDT
I purchased a Brandywine Crabapple online last year. The leader is very dominant, with only a few side branches. This surprises me, since the photos I have seen of this tree are more wide than tall. Can I prune the leader to promote secondary branches or will that adversely effect the height of my tree in coming years? It's about 7-8 feet tall right now.
Summit County Ohio
Expert Response
This is what the tree looks like now
Great question and a good picture Rachel. Also, now is the right time to be thinking about pruning crabapples. As far a pruning goes, yes, you can prune the large stem. Crabapples do not have a dominate central leader that must not be pruned. The best place to prune a crabapple is just above a branch or a bud and make your cut at a 45 degree angle so water runs off. When you prune, a good rule of thumb is to take no more than 1/3 off.
Thank you for the question and I hope you enjoy your crabapple for many years to come.
Thank you for the question and I hope you enjoy your crabapple for many years to come.
