Measure the amount of fertilizer needed and use a spreader to evenly distribute it on the ground. This preferred method, however, is simple to do. Both have been found to be less effective than simply spreading fertilizer on the ground. Two of these are not recommended any longer by most experts: drilling holes in the ground around the tree and inserting fertilizer and using stake fertilizers inserted into the ground.

Malus ‘JFS-KW5’ PP 14375 Royal Raindrops. ‘JFS-KW5’, commonly sold under the trade name of ROYAL RAINDROPS, is an upright-spreading, disease-resistant, easy-to-grow, crabapple tree that features (1) deeply lobed purple foliage (early leaves may be entire) which retains excellent color throughout summer, (2) magenta-pink single flowers in spring (April in St. 10: 15: Weeping: Purple, becoming bronze-green: Rose red: Deep red, 3/8'-1/2' Fair: Good: Excel. Purple foliage, rosy red flowers and deep red fruits add to its all season appeal. There are several methods for fertilizing crabapples. Royal Fountain Crabapple Royal Fountain has a very graceful weeping habit and branches well at a young age. The best time to fertilize is in fall or late winter.

You can use this information to calculate the area and determine the fertilizer needs but stick to the low end of the recommendation for crabapples. The root system extends about 20 to 30 feet (6-9 m.) beyond the edge of the crown of the tree. Another recommendation is to use 1 to 2 pounds (0.5-1 kg.) of fertilizer per 100 square feet (9.29 sq. If there are, they can be addressed first to prevent problems later.Ī general 10-10-10 fertilizer is a good choice for feeding a crabapple tree. You may also want to consider testing the soil first to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies. Instead, use an organic material, like compost, to prepare the soil before planting. In general, crabapples don’t need a lot of fertilizing in the first year. Excessive fertilizer can also promote more leaf growth and restrict the number of flowers that develop. Crabapple Fertilizer NeedsĬrabapple feeding should be balanced: not enough fertilizer and the tree may not grow well or only very slowly, but too much fertilizer can make it grow in an unhealthy way and make it more susceptible to diseases like fire blight. Despite its hands-off nature, feeding a crabapple may be necessary to promote growth and health. Flowering crabapple is a popular ornamental tree that many people choose for landscaping for the attractive shape, spring flowers, and low-maintenance needs.

Royal crabapple