Apple tree bloom unusual - Ask Extension
Hello, my usually prolific crabapple tree was diagnosed by extension service as possibly having Apple scab last year. It is a terraced garden old tree...
Knowledgebase
Apple tree bloom unusual #867181
Asked May 06, 2024, 8:59 AM EDT
Hello, my usually prolific crabapple tree was diagnosed by extension service as possibly having Apple scab last year. It is a terraced garden old tree and I’m sure has struggled during the drought even with much additional watering. This season it is blooming only on one side as you could see from the pictures. Is there anything special I should be doing other than watering and hoping for the best? (Pic 3 is last August. The others are current)
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
To be most effective apple scab treatment is best done early spring. See the website for details.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/apple-scab
Changes in blossoming such as this can be due to a number of problems related to tree stress such as drought, frost, too much fertilizer or biennial bearing (heavy fruiting one year and not the next.) Read more at the following website.
https://apples.extension.org/why-did-my-trees-only-produce-a-few-blossoms-in-the-spring/
Finally the tree is beautiful but it could use a good pruning. This would increase the chances that the tree would fully blossom. Pruning is best accomplished while the tree is dormant in late winter.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/apple-scab
Changes in blossoming such as this can be due to a number of problems related to tree stress such as drought, frost, too much fertilizer or biennial bearing (heavy fruiting one year and not the next.) Read more at the following website.
https://apples.extension.org/why-did-my-trees-only-produce-a-few-blossoms-in-the-spring/
Finally the tree is beautiful but it could use a good pruning. This would increase the chances that the tree would fully blossom. Pruning is best accomplished while the tree is dormant in late winter.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
