Tidy up crab apples

It may be your crab apple has become a bit of a mess; tidy it up now to keep your tree healthy and well maintained. Remove any mouldy fruit from the branches and the ground, otherwise pests and disease can take up residence. Though crab apples aren’t in need of a massive renovation, give it a trim to create an open, airy canopy, free of diseased or congested branches. Finally, mulch around the soil surface to retain moisture and suppress weeds. If you want to plant one, get it in the ground now – try ‘Red Sentinel’ in bright red or ‘Butterball’ in yellow.