If you are on the lookout for a house tree that presents itself as a floral work of art in the garden, you will find it at Zierapfel. You can purchase the most beautiful varieties as a graft on a standard tree, or you can raise your Malus hybrid to a small tree yourself. You can read here how it works.
Like any apple tree, the ornamental apple can be raised to a standard without any problems
This is how you train ornamental apples to become a standard
In the wild, ornamental apples always thrive as richly branched shrubs. In order for the wood to be transformed into a small tree, the starting signal for training to become a standard tree is fired at an early age. How to do it right:
- On a young ornamental apple, fix the strong central shoot to a stick with a tree tie
- Cut off all side shoots without damaging the bark
- In the period that follows, straighten up the shoot tip and consistently cut off superfluous side branches
Once the central shoot has reached the desired stem height, cut off the tip about 20 cm above the specified base of the crown. This cut initiates the branching that ultimately creates the crown. New side branches are shortened to 3 leaves so that they branch vitally. In the following period you will shape the crown in this way, while the trunk continues to be supported and gains diameter.
These refined varieties aim high
If you raise a malus hybrid yourself from a shrub to a tree, the limited growth will result in a tall stem for the bucket. If, on the other hand, you are aiming for a majestic standard ornamental apple with a growth height of 8 to 10 meters as a house tree, qualified tree nurseries have adequate grafts ready for you. We have put together the most beautiful varieties for you here:
- John Downie inspires with slender growth, white flowers and 3 cm large, edible fruits
- Red Sentinel scores with pink buds, white flowers and cherry red apples in the fall
- Golden Hornet stretches as a standard up to 10 m tall to boast pink-white flowers and golden-yellow fruits
The high effort involved in upgrading a standard tree is reflected in the correspondingly high prices. Specimens with a trunk diameter of 20 cm have prices starting at 500 euros. Therefore, first ask different suppliers about your favorite high-stem variety before you make your final purchase decision.
tips
When choosing the location for a crabapple, the problem of soil fatigue that is present in all rose plants should be considered. Do not plant a young crabapple in a spot that previously hosted a Malus species. Alternatively, you can carry out a complete floor replacement.