How do you prune a weeping crab apple tree?
Pretty much the same way you prune any other tree. You cut out branches and shoots that are growing the wrong ways, and trim the ends off any branches that grow too long. Also, cut out dead-wood and any diseased portions. When removing branches or shoots, try to cut as close to the trunk or branch it comes from as possible. Make the cuts as clean as possible. If your tree has difficulties with disease, you might want to use some sort of appropriate sealant on the cuts. (Tar is one that is used, but it does not do well for all types of trees.) I believe the recommended angle for cuts is 45 degrees… Always use sharp pruners and do your best not to injure the trunk or the bark of the branches and shoots you keep. Cut a bit above whichever ‘bud’ or ‘growth nodule’ you choose to keep to allow for die-back, bearing in mind that the direction a bud faces is likely the direction it will choose to grow. Don’t overprune. If you discover you have not pruned enough, then leave it to prune for ne
