Ants and my Crabapple tree

14 years ago

I just purchased a Prairifire crabapple tree. When we planted it later that afternoon once it was delivered tons of large black ants swarmed out of the black plastic container as we were removing it. Now about a week and a half later the ants are back. We had a rubber mulch ring around the tree. I lifted it to water around the tree and the ants were again swarming around the rootball. Also, the bark around the bottom 4 or 5 inches is cracked and lifted. Is this a result of the ants or is it normal growth of a crabapple? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kim

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

User
14 years ago
Contact the place you purchased it from and ask them to look at the damage to see if you did in when planting or it was damaged at the nursery.

It does not sound like you planted the tree correctly. You should not have a root ball after it is planted. You need to (after talking to the nursery and inspection) dig the tree up and carefully break apart the root ball. Tease the roots so that they are pointing away from the tree rather than wrapping arround the roots in a ball. Then replant the tree with the top root barely under the ground. By leaving the root ball the tree will eventually strangle itself with it's roots.
Kimmsr
14 years ago
The ants are not a problem, although sometimes ants can tell you there is a problem you need to look at. If the ants are congregating around that split bark that may be where the problem is.
Cracked bark is not normal for any tree unless that tree had a sudden growth spurt, or something happened to damage that area. I would talk with the nursery the tree came from about why the pot would have a large colony of ants in it, though.
Related Discussions
My families crabapple tree
Q
Comments (2)
They appear to me to be from plum curculios, which are notoriously hard to kill with organic insecticides. The larvae (worms) are unlikely to survive in a crab apple, though some will.
...See More
Yellow Leaves and Rust on my Indian Summer Crabapple Tree
Q
Comments (5)
The orange/red spots is rust for sure....hard to control with chemicals, so spraying will do little to stop the spread. Rust will not kill your tree unless you get a bad infestation. Some years are worse than others for rust infestation. Yellowing leaves is normal for newly planted trees and shrubs until the plant becomes established......make sure that you keep the roots moist through the summer. The new fresh growth (purple colour) will turn to green as the leaf matures.....which is normal... Generally, your tree looks good....relax, let your tree become established....
...See More
PIX - What is wrong with my prairie fire crabapple tree?
Q
Comments (3)
There are all sorts of causes to bark splitting, usually a response to an environmental factor like frost/thaw, sun scald, even fluctuating weather/temperature conditions. Fruit trees - like the crab - have thin bark and are quite prone to splitting. Typically it is more of a cosmetic issue than a serious threat to the health of the tree and the tree is usually able to adapt to and seal/scar over the split with ease. Here is a link that might be useful: the 411 on bark splitting
...See More
Just ordered my first Crabapple, called Robinson Flowering Crabapple
Q
Comments (2)
Originates before 1970 in Indiana. Said to be faster growing than usual and have excellent disease resistance, although it gets scab out here in my area - the test of purple-leaved flowering crab-apples in particular is how they hold up to disease after the initial spring glory period, where I live there are a great many specimens of poorly adapted, older cultivars around.
...See More
kr222
Original Author
14 years ago
I contacted the nursery last night, but I haven't heard from them yet. If you don't look at the ants or the bottom 4 or 5 inches of the tree, it looks pretty healthy. It seems to be spreading out. The leaves look healthy. The tree we purchased was about 8 feet tall. The bark at the bottom had a darker ring, like wet bark, from the cracked area down. That was there upon delivery. Unfortunately it was drizzling pretty hard, and they were in their truck before I got out there. It looked as though the nursery had removed soil from the container before they brought it to the house...perhaps to lighten the load. I think that the cracked area used to be under soil. Is it something that could heal over time? The warranty on the tree is for 3 months as long as I don't do the list of things on their warranty to void it.

As for the "root ball", the roots were spread out although their was still some soil around the core middle part where the trunk connected to the roots. What I meant by the root ball was just the roots. They weren't pot bound or left in a ball when it was planted. I just used the term incorrectly.
jean001
14 years ago
You asked "Is it something that could heal over time?"

We don't have a clue. Pictures might help us decide.

That said, from what you have described, I suggest you take advantage of their warranty and get a different tree.
kr222
Original Author
14 years ago
Here's a picture of the damage I am talking about. Any ideas?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1159678}}
User
14 years ago
Did you look for damage when you selected the tree. That damage is old. You can tell that by the growth of bark in the damaged area. If the nursery selected the tree ask for another one. If you selected this one I myself would chalk it up to a learning experience and hope the tree lives.

Again looking at the tree it is planted too deep. The bottom of the trunk should be swelling slightly where it touches the ground.
kr222
Original Author
14 years ago
When I selected the tree the base did not look like that. It looked as though they removed soil from the container when they delivered it, exposing this section. I never would have spent so much on a tree if it had any damage to the bark. I know that can be an invitation for pests and diseases. I did contact the nursery and they said it's probably just from the graft and that the ants will probably disperse. This didn't look like something a graph could cause so I sent him pictures of the damage last evening. I haven't heard back yet.