Old crab apple

[TR8Driver]

Here is an old crab apple of mine that I repotted the other day. I've had this tree for at least 35 years, starting as a stick in a 4" pot. First picture is the tree in the ground in 2004, the next year I put it in a pot. Fast forward to 2021 and the tree is in an Anderson flat, but the left hand trunk/branch has died. Then next photo is from last year (2023), by now that dead trunk has completely rotted away, but still blooming well.

Not sure where I'm going to take this now, it has never really been styled other than pruning. I'm considering trying to root some cuttings and approach grafting some roots the help get some taper back in the trunk. It actually has some nice spread on two sides, but of course nothing on the dead side of the trunk, and on the other side no roots, so planing higher doesn't help things right now.

 

[TrevorLarsen]

I like this tree a lot, great blooms and character. I would think about copping off some branches so you can build taper on them.

 

[TR8Driver]

I like this tree a lot, great blooms and character. I would think about copping off some branches so you can build taper on them.

Yes, lots of work needed on this guy. I did quite a bit of root work in the repotting (I was too muddy to get any photos, though), so I'll wait to make sure it bounces back from that before attacking the top too much.

 

[Colorado]

Cool tree! The photo with blooms is amazing! The tree certainly poses some design challenges, but it has plenty of character

Pretty awesome you have had it for over 35 years.

 

[Dabbler]

I LOVE crab apple - I have one I'm working on that I trying to build some crazy taper - Their tendency to rot away is very frustrating, but always give them a sense of age.