Don’t Worry, Be Crabby
You may have noticed that the summer heat has broken here in Southeast Michigan. With a high of 74° yesterday, and temperatures projected to barely creep into the 80s for the rest of the week, as much as I hate to admit it, autumn is blowing in. And with that breath of fresh air, we start to consider fall planting.
Our exceptionally cold winters can make planting in the fall difficult. Due to issues with survivability, most of the trees we carry are listed as hazards to dig for sale in the fall. Even some of the varieties not listed as fall digging hazards perform better when planted in the spring. If there is one tree that has proven to be reliable it would be the crabapple. Crabapples are also one of the most versatile trees thanks to the many different varieties.
The fast-growing nature of crabapples allow these trees to have an easier time establishing a strong root system before winter. This prevents dead branches or an entirely dead tree to replace in the spring and keeps customers happy. Crabapples will also offer an instant reward in the spring with beautiful bright flowers.
We carry many varieties of crabapple that could be perfect for what your customer is looking for. Weeping, spreading, and upright shapes with pink, red, or white flowers and purple or green leaves can be used to fit beautifully in any landscape. My personal favorites are Coralburst with light pink flowers and the beautiful deep purple/red leaves of Purple Prince, Royal Raindrops, and the new columnar variety Gladiator.
Whatever the need, there is a crabapple for your customer. And here at Christensen’s we’re happy to help you find the perfect one.
