10$ lowes crab apple

[Rianodell]

Hi,
I was at lowes today to get a weeping Cherry tree, & saw some crab apples 60% off so i grabbed one that had a lot of growth coming from the bottom of the pot. Idk if it’s seedlings that had sprouted up in the pot, or if it’s sports from the under stock.

Idk what I’m going to do with the tree at all just found it interesting. If you have any ideas let me know I need some Input with this three.

The main truck has no lower branching what so ever, branches start at about four feet up.
Also it’s my first crab apple.

 

[n8]

These are suckers and you can cut them off in early spring. Looks like they may be growing from the root stock(?), so you don't want them.

You can go pretty hard on the roots in the spring, too. Get that sorted out to develop a decent nebari.

Brent has great info on crabs: https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/crabappl.htm

I have some in the ground here, that are really coming together quickly after two growing seasons: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/talk-to-me-about-ground-growing.46844/post-947526

Crabs are becoming one of my favorite species.

 

[Rianodell]

These are suckers and you can cut them off in early spring. Looks like they may be growing from the root stock(?), so you don't want them.

You can go pretty hard on the roots in the spring, too. Get that sorted out to develop a decent nebari.

Brent has great info on crabs: https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/crabappl.htm

I have some in the ground here, that are really coming together quickly after two growing seasons: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/talk-to-me-about-ground-growing.46844/post-947526

Crabs are becoming one of my favorite species.

If I was to chop (or airlayer) the main truck down low would it back bud on old wood? I would like to start a new leader that has good movement and not something so straight.

 

[n8]

If I was to chop (or airlayer) the main truck down low would it back bud on old wood? I would like to start a new leader that has good movement and not something so straight.

Yes, they'll throw loads of new branches. Just stay above that graft (if it is a graft) so you get the crab you bought. Read Brent's page on crabs. It's super helpful.

I've chopped most of mine twice per season and the Snowdrift three times since March. Trying to make some chonkers!

 

[BonsaiNaga13]

Those notches along the trunk line are nodes and where new buds SHOULD sprout from but sometimesnature is unpredictable. Keep that in mind when deciding. Id check those fruit there for viable seeds and propagate some more... but im always looking for something new to grow. I bought a crabapple 2 years ago from hd with the same intent but airlayers aren't my strong suit so I planted it in the ground and I plan to collect fruit from it.

 

[Rianodell]

Those notches along the trunk line are nodes and where new buds SHOULD sprout from but sometimesnature is unpredictable. Keep that in mind when deciding. Id check those fruit there for viable seeds and propagate some more... but im always looking for something new to grow. I bought a crabapple 2 years ago from hd with the same intent but airlayers aren't my strong suit so I planted it in the ground and I plan to collect fruit from it.

I’m going to try and airlayer it down low, I have good success with layering Japanese maples so I’m guessing this shouldn’t be anymore difficult then a JM. I did collect all the fruit from this tree, and meany more from other trees with differ Flower color while I was looking at them at lowes lol. Got all the seeds out, it was more then a hundred, idk i how meany where viable but non the less I put them all in a seed try. Hopefully in the spring I have a bunch of seedlings.

 

[AJL]

The seed need chilling overwinter to break dormancy -you could do it in the fridge or outdoors depending on your climate. if outdoors protect them from rodents and birds!
Looks like some of the suckers are rooted already so you could rip them off below ground and plant them up- more free trees!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Be aware seeds from these can produce different children than parent tree, Likely little green apples.

 

[sorce]

I'd airlayer it.

Eff suckers.

Sorce