Crab apple question

[caroline7758]

My crab apple tree (Golden Hornet) has developed long thin shoots from the end of the branches.these shoots haven't had any fruit on. I haven't noticed this in previous years. is this a problem, or is it just new growth? Also, is now a good time to prune the tree or should I wait a while?

[caroline7758]

[Palustris]

These are called Water shoots.
Now is a good time to prune them back to one bud from the point of origin. Or at least that is what I would do.

[johhnyco15]

i agree with all of the above water shoots sometimes grow when trees have been pruned too hard  the previous winter/spring so the tree reacts by trying to restore the canopy by sending up a lot of skinny shoots that go straight to the sky  hope this helps

[caroline7758]

Thanks for the advice. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have never pruned it since we planted it, but it has had some fairly rough treatment due to a hop climbing into it and being pulled out of it every year!