Information on Spring Snow Crab Trees

Description

• "Spring Snow" crab apple is a small tree that typically grows to between 25 and 30 feet tall with a 15- to 20-foot spread. The branches form a dense, oval canopy full of glossy, bright green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. Unlike other crab apple varieties, "Spring Snow" typically doesn't bear fruit. Although it lacks colorful crab apples, the attractive, mottled bark provides interest to the winter landscape.

Flowers

• Fragrant white flowers appear in spring, putting on a fantastic flower display for one to two weeks, depending on the weather. Unlike other crab apple trees, "Spring Snow" blooms profusely every single year. The attractive flower buds range from pale pink to reddish-purple, making a nice contrast with the future white blooms. Crab apple blossoms look similar to apple blossoms with their oval petals and bright yellow stamens sticking out of the flower's center.

Planting Location

• "Spring Snow" crab apple tree adapts to various soils as long as the site has good drainage, but it prefers fertile, sandy loams that are slightly acidic. Like other crab apple varieties, this tree flowers and grows best in full sun, although it can tolerate some light shade. "Spring Snow" works well in small spaces, but you must make sure it receives ample air circulation for optimal health and vigor.

Watering

• An established "Spring Snow" tree is moderately drought-tolerant and only needs between 15 and 20 inches of water every year. During the first few growing seasons, your tree needs about 1 inch of water every week. When it hasn't rained, water your tree every two to three weeks, giving it 2 to 3 inches of water each session. Water the tree with a garden hose and avoid getting the foliage wet to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around crab apple trees to help maintain consistent soil moisture.

Pruning

• The low-maintenance "Spring Snow" tree needs little pruning, but still appreciates you thinning out the canopy to allow more sun and air to reach the center of the plant. Remove any crossed, damaged, diseased or dead branches to help prevent future injuries, plant diseases or pest problems. Maintenance prune in late winter before the new spring growth appears. Remove suckers and water sprouts as they form so the tree can focus its energies on producing more flowers.

Potential Problems

• Unlike other crab apple tree varieties, "Spring Snow" is fairly resistant to verticillium wilt, rust and fireblight. It occasionally suffers from powdery mildew disease, which covers the leaves with a white, powdery growth, and is highly susceptible to apple scab, a fungal disease that initially shows up as olive green spots on the leaves. Severe apple scab infections cause leaves to yellow, curl and prematurely drop. Fall webworms and tent caterpillars sometimes build their nests in these trees, feeding on leaves and causing extensive leaf loss. Prune out and promptly destroy any infected foliage or small insect nests.