When to prune Crabapples?

[802climber]

Is now a bad time of year to do restoration pruning on some crabapples?

I thought late fall through mid winter was best, when they are dormant?

Thanks.

 

[Zale]

In our area, late winter, usually March.

 

[802climber]

Will it really shock them to be pruned now when they are budding out, etc? I know it is the wrong time of year, but will it be really bad for the trees? I know it would hurt a tree's fruit production but these are just crabapples. The guy just wants them "cleaned up" or something I have not seen them yet, but it sounds like a multi installment restoration job if it's even worth messing with.

 

[woodchuck357]

Orchard folks usually say

prune apples when your knife is sharp.

 

[Oldmaple]

Tree guys say when the saw is sharp. Biologists would say when dormant. Business owners would say when the phone call comes in. They all have their point. Practically it doesn't make much difference (with consideration for trees with fire blight problems). I like to do my regular reductions right after they flower to make the least impact on the annual flower show since that's why most people have them in their landscape.