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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: caroline7758 on January 19, 2017, 10:08:04

Title: Crab apple question
Post by: caroline7758 on January 19, 2017, 10:08:04

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?

Title: Re: Crab apple question
Post by: Palustris on January 19, 2017, 15:59:24

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.

Title: Re: Crab apple question
Post by: johhnyco15 on January 19, 2017, 20:00:08

i agree with all of the above :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: 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

Title: Re: Crab apple question
Post by: caroline7758 on January 19, 2017, 20:27:40

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!