For the last 2 years the crab apple tree has been absolutely covered in blossom and then fruit, but this year there is hardly any blossom. The other fruit trees in the garden are loaded though.
It is a bit of a worry as this tree is very important to the garden's bees (masons mainly) and then as a food supply for the blackbirds after the first frosts.
Do crab apple trees have a "rest" year or does it signify another problem?
Perhaps your crab apple needs a sabbatical after the last two years?
Perhaps it's competing unsuccessfully with the other fruit trees?
How wonderful that you're so aware of the bees and the blackbirds and their needs. :)
I guess the bees will go wherever their food source is abundant. You could always leave a few extra windfalls for the blackbirds in the autumn.
Yes they can have a rest year but normally tree that is constant performer not doing so can be sign of something no so nice...can be......but is the tree looking other wise healthy?..did it crop unusually heavily last year..? Have you pruned it more than usual..?
Have you done anything out of ordinary to it..or haven't you done what you usually do..?
But don't worry about you bee population..they are happy with other fruit trees too and they are not dependant just with crab blossom ;D]
If you tree is looking otherwise fine..I would not worry..as for it not to flower can be something weather related too...and not just about this winter..it might sulk something from last year.. ::) dry period..too wet..... ???
The tree could have overdone it last year, which is the cause of biennial bearing. It uses too much energy fruiting one year, so it barely fruits the next.
Thanks for the replies - the tree looks very healthy but it did bear a heck of a lot of fruit last year so I suppose that it is taking that sabbatical that spudbash suggested.
Bit worried about leaving windfalls about as we have 2 cats and our neighbour has about 4.
Yes, I share your concern about cats and birds. I'm no bird expert, but I think blackbirds are territorial, so I imagine that any who are regulars in your garden will be there, anyway, and take whatever lovely worms, apples etc that are there. I know even less about cats and how to manage their carnivorous instincts, but my neighbour's cats wear a bell around their necks. Not sure if works. :-\
Blackbirds are definitely territorial.