Pot bound crab apple

[toshtony]

Hi guys I got given a couple of pot bound crab apples, like really pot bound. Not bad trunks and nebari so was thinking I might give it a major root reduction chop the trunk cut the suckers and put it in the ground maybe in a colander. Since it's a grafted fruit tree I'm assuming it can take a major root reduction, I've read somewhere that you can bare root them without a problem but that's usually done in Winter. Any advice or tips will be much appreciated.
Thanks
Tony

[Akhi]

Given the time of the year, I would just pot it up into a larger pot just pulling some roots apart and filling the distance between the football and the pot rim with fresh potting mix. Also since it is grafter, you will need to cut it abouve the union if you wish to retain the large flowers

[treeman]

I would not bother even touching the roots now. Leave it in the pot, throw a handful of osmocote and a handful of dolomite and a handful of wetting agent in there and water it everyday. Attack it in autumn.

[toshtony]

Ok thanks Akhi and treeman! I'll slide it in a foam box and fill it up with fresh potting mix osmocote and dolmite. I should still cut the suckers and leave the trunk chop and pruning for later?
Or maybe put some airlayers in?
Thanks again
Tony

[shibui]

Keep removing any suckers from below the graft as soon as possible after they appear. You can try air layering. Some crabapples layer well but I have tried some that refused to put out roots - it may depend on the variety

[toshtony]

Thanks Neil, the variety is ioensis plena, do they strike better by cuttings or airlayers? Also just noticed your new catalogue, some really great stock. Would you have a purple crab apple for sale by any chance?
Thanks
Tony

[treeman]

Ok thanks Akhi and treeman! I'll slide it in a foam box and fill it up with fresh potting mix osmocote and dolmite. I should still cut the suckers and leave the trunk chop and pruning for later?
Or maybe put some airlayers in?
Thanks again
Tony

No I think this is a mistake. I have seen roots rot because of this. Leave it in the pot it's in.

[toshtony]

Ok thanks treeman going to leave it in the same pot until next year but with airlayers in it.

[shibui]

Code: Select all

Would you have a purple crab apple for sale by any chance? 

I have a few cutting grown 'Profusion' crabapples at the moment. They have dark leaves , dark pink flowers and very dark red, small fruit. Some in 11 cm pots and a couple in 15cm pots.

[Starfox]

I have one that needs a repot too and it is autumn/winter here now but should I wait until it drops it's fruit and then repot?

[Akhi]

Best time to repot is just as the buds swell and leaf tips begin to show from the bud covering

[shibui]

it is autumn/winter here now but should I wait until it drops it's fruit and then repot?

Obviously very few parrots on Costa Blanca Starfox. It is just midsummer here and they have started eating the green crabapples. By autumn there won't be any left on any of my trees unless I put bird net up.
I start repotting mid winter and have no problems. I know more and more are repotting in autumn while the trees still have leaves so it seems that any time from autumn through to spring is ok. Having said that, once the tree is dormant it probably does not really matter if it stays root bound until nearer to spring - not growing, not using water.

[Starfox]

No parrots here so that much is safe, not sure if squirrels will eat them though.
It's not so much root bound but the soil is poor and low and I'm a bit worried about rot in there. Good to know I can probably get away with it now, thanks guys.