Malus - Crabapple spring Trauma

Brad in GR

Chumono
Messages
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Location
West Michigan
USDA Zone
6a
Did significant work on this crabapple today. Bought at meijer gardens all state show last april, slip potted. ($35) Crazy circling roots, extended multiple layers down once I got into the root system.

Chopped about 60% of the roots and eliminated all circling. Huge effort and my back hurts.

Also pruned one of the three branches - all three extending from same node. Didn’t want to prune too much as I’m not yet comfortable with this tree, but the main apex has a very straight section and will need to be removed.

Read here that malus do not back bud well when pruned during growing season- can confirm was the case as I removed a few small shoots last year with no additional buds to show. Hoping that removing this branch will help on that front.

Love the new planting angle - nebari/base justified it as well. Smaller branch as future apex - but very firm right now so not comfortable wiring.

Thoughts?
 

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