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Winter pruing - crabapple
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Author:  bluesky [ 26 Jan 2018, 21:35 ]
Post subject:  Winter pruing - crabapple
This crabapple has bags of character, ugly in parts but I reckon has plenty of potential. i have let it grow wild since spring, now trying to do a good design prune.
Trouble is, I can't decide which stem at the top to make the main trunk and apex, versus which to prune back.

Image
Yes that is a freak leaf that made it through ice and snow! The rest of the foliage fell about 6 weeks ago.

Image

If I promote the left-hand top branch to be the main trunk, I will prune the one on the right down to that small curved branch.

If I use the right hand top branch as the maint trunk, I'll need to reduce the one on the left and possibly even prune off the slightly lower (mid) branch to the left.

Image

Any advice welcome! Thanks.
Author:  john blanchard [ 28 Jan 2018, 19:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Winter pruing - crabapple
It depends on your desired height and shape really. If you want a bigger version but similar to what you have I'd allow the top left branch to become the new leader. As I see it you have five curves with branches to them and as each stretch diminishes in height as it gets to the top you won't have far to go before the final height is reached. However if you want a much bigger tree what I'd do is plant it in open ground and take the right hand top branch as the new leader. Then as the trunk thickens all these curves will become less pronounced but very characterfull and your first branch could be the third you have here or the top one on the left.
Author:  PeterBone [ 29 Jan 2018, 13:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Winter pruing - crabapple
Natural deciduous trees often don't have a single leader. Unless you want it a lot bigger I would keep both.
Author:  Brendan [ 30 Jan 2018, 12:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Winter pruing - crabapple
Where the branch and trunk sort of curl around each other you are going to pick up problems that will never go away. It will always look artificial and will cause a strange knob to develop. In the pic that's where I wrote (1).




Also, there is little taper as you go up the tree. The second branch off to the right is long, straight and taperless. (2)

Then you get another inverse taper lump at (3)

The third branch is bigger than the one below it, out of proportion. It is also taperless. (4)

Image2018-01-30_11-16-06 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr


You should look to carve the scar on the bottom right under the first RHS branch so that it is not a lump. You can also consider reducing the height of the tree. Quite a few options emerge for reducing height.




Here you just cut back the top most thick growth and let only a couple of buds develop for a new apex. The first RHS branch might also need to be cut back.I'd start with this as my first option. If it works out - good. If not, then you can always cut away more and more in the future...

Image2018-01-30_11-21-51 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr




Similarly you could chop the thick apex off and hope for some buds to develop a new but thinner apex in time. Not much difference between this and the previous virt?

Image2018-01-30_11-02-32 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr




But if you are feeling radical another approach considering the odd twisted branch/trunk is actually to go really short. Cut the trunk away from the lowest RHS branch.

Image2018-01-30_11-03-54 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr




Possibly think about leaving the trunk as deadwood for the future?
Image2018-01-30_11-39-50 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr




I'd start with the first option. If it works out - good. If not, then you can always cut away more and more in the future...
Author:  Gary Jones [ 30 Jan 2018, 13:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Winter pruning - crabapple
For me crab apple suits a larger size due to it's coarseness. I would be growing this a lot bigger over a number of years aiming to develop a broader base with some root flare as well. It has the feel of a cutting more than a miniature tree at the moment.
Author:  bluesky [ 30 Jan 2018, 19:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Winter pruing - crabapple
Thanks, all good advice and lots to consider.
So really I should either grow it in the ground for another few years, or prune down.
It's true that crab apple are course trees. On the other hand I like my wee trees to be small.
Brendan thanks for the virts - as you said I could try the first option and if the branches are still out of proportion in a year or two it would be possible to chop further.
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