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how do I encourage lateral growth?

15 years ago

Hi all, I planted this Purple Prince crab apple last fall (link below). Maybe this is the crab's normal habit at this size, or perhaps nurseries prune this way so the trees will be easier to ship, but it seems too vertical and spindly to me. How can I encourage lateral growth? Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: purple prince crab

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Comments (4)

Embothrium
15 years ago
The side branches you see now will grow longer. Most crabs produce a congested, low, bushy head on their own. Some day you may wish this one had a more elevated crown.

Definitely do not top it. Keep it mulched etc. and growing well and watch it get much wider on its own.
wisconsitom
15 years ago
Yep, just be patient. There's a lot of sunshine that's going to strike that tree from nearly every angle. It will explode in growth on its own. There are legitimate pruning things one can do with crabs to achieve certain goals. But it is much too soon to be worrying about the growth form of this tree.

+oM
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Both of those are considered fruit trees :-) And if you research the topic a bit more, this technique is typically done with very young trees - even whips - to encourage low, wide-angled lateral branchings. I'm not at all sure how effective this technique is to encourage branching on larger, more mature trees. And on non-fruit type trees......typically these have much more specific pruning requirements and techniques than do ornamentals and respond quite differently. Not sure what text you are referring to but most fruit tree training resources do recommend the early spring time period I mentioned previously. Perhaps that is because they are primarily dealing with very young trees with not much pre-existing branching present. Although I can't see that even being a concern for a larger, more mature tree. How much altering of growth or refocusing of energy can a small notching create, for heaven's sake?? Regardless, If dealing with anything larger than a sapling or whip, I'd be inclined to let nature take its course :-) If given proper care after planting and adequate exposure to sunlight, trees tend to fill in pretty well on their own.
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You may be overthinking it, or I'm missing your meaning. I think what they are saying is that when it gets to the height you want, maintain that by pruning branches that are growing upward. Those are the new, green branches that will steal all the sunlight. Energy is then naturally directed to the lower, older, woody branches for growth and where most of the flowering occurs. ez
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
if planted last fall .. your tree will NOT be ESTABLISHED for 2 or 3 years ...

more leaves ='s more food production ='s more roots ='s faster growing .... faster to ESTABLISH tree ....

remove any of the canopy .. and you retard the whole equation ...

the ONLY exception would be broken or crossing limbs ....

MAYBE .... not this summer... but the winter following ... you MIGHT do a LITTLE bit of pruning for the sake of TRAINING ....

for now.. mulch well.. keep it PROPERLY watered for all of this year.. ask if you dont know what that means ...

and stow the pruning tools where you cant find them for 2 years ...

the ONLY problem with your tree .. is your expectation .. relax .. be the tree .... if it lives... and you will have to try hard to kill a crab .... it will do what it will do.. when it is ready ...

they are pretty fast growing... dont worry about it.. in a year or two.. there will be plenty of growth for you to start pruning .... especially suckers.. lol ...

good luck

ken
sodkiller
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks all, for your input. I must admit that I especially love suggestions that involve doing nothing....lol

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