Crabapple Trees for Sale Online
It is hard to find a flowering tree that is easier to grow and hardier than a Crabapple Tree. Crabapple Trees are highly disease resistant and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. They are one of the most widely used ornamental trees in landscapes across the United States.
If your new to landscaping or simply looking for an easy-to-grow flowering tree, this is one type of tree you must consider. Our Flowering Crabapple Trees come in various colors and produce an extended profusion of flowers in April and May. Our selection of Flowering Crabapple Trees, including the Prarie Fire Crabapple, provides a welcome perch for Birds, Butterflies, and other pollinators.
Why Grow Crabapple Trees in your Garden
Crab apples are members of the same family as your grocery store apple trees, except that they produce smaller and more tart fruit than most apples. The trees themselves have a more open habit that offers both shelter and food for visiting birds. The crab apple is one of those rare trees that fill many niches in the landscape. The show starts in spring with a display of white or pink flowers that draws in the pollinators.
Once the flower show is over, crab apples produce their wonderful fruits in generous clusters. They are ready to pick from early fall and are often used in jams and jellies. As in the spring, when the flowers draw in the bees, the fruits that remain on the tree fall and winter serve as a food source for birds. Vibrant autumn foliage serves as the final blaze of glory for the Crabapple Tree.
Choosing the Right Location for a Crabapple Tree
Crabapple trees are perfect medium-sized trees. They are just as home in the front yard as they are in the back yard. Their size is perfect as they will remain in scale with most homes and won't overpower and reduce your home's curb appeal.
Crabapples prefer a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil that receives at least six to eight sunlight hours.
How to Plant a Crabapple Tree
After you've chosen the best location for your Crabapple Tree, there are a few easy steps to follow for planting your new tree. Crabapples can be generally be planted at any time of the year as long as the soil can be worked.Step 1: Water the Crabapple Tree thoroughly while it is in the container it arrived in. Water until you see the water running out of the bottom of the pot. Let the tree sit for an hour or so to let any excess water drain from the pot.
Step 2: Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot the tree is growing in. The depth of the hole should be as deep as the root ball, but not deeper. After the tree is planted, you should still be able to see the original nursery soil. Planting the Crabapple Tree too deep is the leading cause of poor growth and death of newly planted trees.
Step 3: If you live in an area that the existing soil is of poor quality or is composed of heavy clay, you should amend the soil with local compost or peat moss at a 50/50 rate. This is also the time to mix in an organic starter fertilizer such as Bio-tone by Espoma.
Step 4: Place the Crabapple Tree in the prepared hole, careful not to overly disturb the roots. It is ok to fluff the roots lightly if the tree is rootbound. This will cause the tree roots to begin to grow out and down rather than circle the root ball.
Step 5: Begin back-filling with the amended soil in 3 to 4-inch layers being careful to tamp the soil between layers. This will remove air pockets and voids created by larger chunks of soil. Be cautious not to damage the existing roots of the tree during this process.
Step 6: Use the leftover soil to create a 3 to 4-inch rim around the planting hole's edges. This will allow water to pool around the newly planted tree and slowly seep into the root zone. Proper watering is essential to the survival of the tree.
We also recommended mulching the newly planted Crabapple Tree. This helps prevent the sun from drying out the soil and damage the truck from mowing equipment such as string trimmers.
Watering Crabapple Trees
After you have planted your Crabapple tree, it should be watered about every 2 to 3 days for the first 4 weeks. After that, begin to cut back on the watering frequency but not the amount of water. When watering, be sure to soak the entire root system. Remember that the root system is usually 18 inches deep on a newly planted tree, and water should soak all the way through the bottom.
Two of the easiest ways to water newly planted trees is to lay the end of the hose at the base of the tree inside the rim and allow it to trickle at the base for 30 to 40 minutes or until you see the water begin to pool.
The second way and our favorite way is to use a Dewitt Dew Right tree watering bag. Install the bag at the base of the tree and fill it with water. Water is allowed to slowly drain from the bag providing the perfect amount of water to the root zone.