{"id":19186,"date":"2023-12-18T13:00:19","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T11:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/?p=19186"},"modified":"2023-12-18T13:00:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T11:00:19","slug":"when-to-prune-crab-apple-tree-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/when-to-prune-crab-apple-tree-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"When To Prune Crab Apple Tree Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Crab apple trees are beautiful and often produce a bountiful harvest in Australia. As part of their care, pruning is a must to help maintain their shape and size, as well as keep any diseases at bay. The question we often hear is when is the best time of year to prune a crab apple tree in Australia?<\/p>\n

We can divide this answer up into two parts: when to prune for shaping and when to prune to help prevent diseases. Generally, early in the spring when the buds of the tree are beginning to swell would be the ideal time if you want to shape the tree. When the blooms appear will be when the buds are swelling, so this is the best time to get pruning.<\/p>\n

Moving on to the pruning done to prevent disease and promote overall tree health. As with shaping, it’s best to prune just after blooming. Mainly because you can assess the health of the tree better when its flowering and then prune away any dead or dying limbs. This will help reduce the chances of diseases from taking hold of the tree.<\/p>\n

Another reason why you should wait until after flowering is due to the pruning during this time of year stimulating the growth of new shoots. If you prune during this stage, you will be letting the tree focus more of its energy on new growth, and it may yield more fruit than the previous year.<\/p>\n