Hazy Summer Crabs

A winter coat is the perfect garment for dormant restoration pruning on crabapples; but the ideal time for annual fostering pruning of crabs is when summer is at its hazy peak, when the heat and humidity are worn like a parka. Summer pruning on crabapples dramatically reduces watersprouts, or young shoots, from springing up the following year. It also creates a presence in the garden by accentuating line and filtering the leaves for light and shadow.

The interplay of age is crucial for the garden. From the humbling timeline of boulders to the wizened age of pines to the passing beauty and youth of iris and lotus, the garden is a 4-dimensional art. Crabapples articulate this juxtaposition of age and ephemerality.

Creating this juxtaposition is done by focusing on line work to create gnarled, rigid branches full of character and age. All of the vigorous waterspouts should be removed or cut back to create a new branch. These sprouts detract from the tension and contrast of the aged branches and the delicate blooms. The ends of the existing branches should be pruned back to a smaller curved branch to encourage ramification and reduce the straight-line spreading of the tree. The leaves should flit about in the summer breeze, so leave the small branches coming off old growth. Holster your secateurs and plan to stay out of the winter winds.

Frosty Winter Crabs

Ayse Pogue, Senior horticulturist
Chicago Botanic Garden

Winter is indeed the perfect time to do a restoration pruning on crabapples, especially on over-grown or neglected ones.  Bare branches reveal the striking structure and character of the tree; and, enable the pruner to see where big cuts are necessary.  Although it might be a little challenging for a beginner pruner to imagine how much the tree will fill in, thinning repetitive branches (2 or 3 branches growing in the same direction) will help reveal the essence of the tree and create a better display of spring blossoms.  Winter is an ideal time also to select and cut dead branches, branches growing straight up from horizontal limbs, branches growing inward or sideways, and branches that cross each other.  When removing crossing branches, it is preferable to keep the ones that add more interest to the whole tree with beautiful curves or taper.

The crabapple will respond to winter pruning by producing vigorous growth and forming a dense canopy.  Summer pruning will be necessary to remove some of this growth to open up the tree once again.  Although all suckers at the base of the tree should be removed, one can be more selective with watersprouts.  It is perfectly fine to keep some to fill in a sparse area in the tree, to replace a dead branch, or to encourage growth in a new direction.

Antione de Saint-Exupéry writes: “There is an ancient myth about the image asleep in the block of marble until it is carefully disengaged by the sculptor. The sculptor must himself feel that he is not so much inventing or shaping the curve of breast or shoulder as delivering the image from its prison.”  As the sculptor aims to free the image, the pruner should aim to free the inherent beauty and grace of the crabapple tree.

*Photos from Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

by David Rettig, Owner Rettig LLC Garden Fostering and Stewardship
www.rettiggardens.com