Apple Trees

Elisabeth — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT

When you live in a small town and people think you have a green thumb, they ask all kinds of gardening questions. One of the most common is, "I want to plant a tree in my yard. What do you recommend?"

Some people want to plant a tree, possibly water it until it settles in and never think of it again. Others don't mind planting something more unusual that requires a little bit of care. When people like that come to me, I often recommend an apple tree. Apples are lovely in the spring, with their clouds of white blossoms, and provide agreeable shade in the summer. Best of all, they reward you with fruit.

To get the best quality fruit you need to be sure that you have a pollinator close by (if necessary) and apply treatments to keep away pests and diseases. Home gardeners can certainly grow apples and other fruits organically. For those with an interest in doing so, I recommend buying or borrowing The Apple Grower: Guide for the Organic Orchardist by Michael Phillips.

Which apple should you pick? The answer is easy. If space is no problem, select the variety that you think tastes the best. I love the 'Lodi' apple for pies and the 'Cortland' for eating. Many people have gone gaga over the relatively new 'Honeycrisp'.

My neighbor has an old apple tree that bears a bountiful crop every year. He has a wonderful time giving his surplus crop to all of the neighbors and we have an equally wonderful time using up his apples. My neighbor is a busy man, but somehow finds a little time to tend his tree. I think he would tell you that the reward is worth the effort.

Flowering Crabapples

Elisabeth — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:52:00 GMT

I have been doing a lot of research lately on Father John Fiala (1924-1990), an Ohio priest whose horticultural passions revolved around lilacs and flowering crabapple trees. The latter seem to be an object of fascination for many people, which is probably why there are so many flowering crab varieties on the market.

It is easy to see why. The blossoms, which can be pink, rose or, white, are beautiful in the spring and can be fragrant. The trees themselves make great landscaping subjects. Not many people use the fruits to make crabapple jelly any more, though the jelly is tasty. The fruits are attractive in the fall. Birds love them, as do small children, who find them perfect for hurling at each other.

Crabapples don't have many requirements other than sun and well drained soil. If you want crabs but are afflicted with heavy clay soil, amend the soil before planting the tree.

Breeders have worked hard to develop flowering crabapples that do not have susceptibility to apple scab and other diseases that require fungicide treatments. Among the more interesting of the modern cultivars is 'Camzam', sometimes sold as Camelot. With a mature height of only ten feet, the tree is suitable for smaller spaces. 'Camzam' has pink and white blossoms and burgundy fruit. The dark green leaves also have a dark reddish tinge.

There are many choices available for those seeking small ornamental trees. Flowering crabs provide three seasons of interest for a relatively small investment of cash and care.

Growing Wise : malus

Apple Trees

Flowering Crabapples