--Characteristics--
A pretty, rounded tree, attractive both in blossom and in fruit. A British native, it is one of the ancestors of all our cultivated apples and is often seen in hedgerows. It makes a pretty specimen tree for the garden and is a good pollinator for other apples. It is a useful addition to woodlands, where it will support a range of insects and birds.
Site and soil
Prefers well-drained soil, but will cope well with heavier sites. Very hardy.
Leaf and bark
The leaves are ovate, mid-green 4-8cm long. The bark is dark brown, cracked into rectangular plates. Sometimes thorny.
Flower, seed and fruit
The saucer-shaped five petalled white flowers are tinged pink and open in May. The small round green fruits ripen in autumn to yellow, flushed red. They are very sour even when ripe.
Uses
Crab apples are too sour to eat raw, but can be made into jams or added to other fruits where their high pectin content ensures a good 'set'. The have also been added to cider and were an ingredient of the medieval drink Lamb’s Wool. The close-grained wood is prized for wood turning, and it is also valued as a sweet-scented fuel.
Wildlife
Bees are attracted to the flowers, and birds and small mammals eat the fruits. Insects shelter in the crevices of the bark where they are a food source for birds.
--Plant Protection--
--Planting & Care--
Planting
More commonly used as part of a mixed species within a native hawthorn hedge.
New hedgerows should be planted in two staggered rows 30cm apart.
We recommend a minimum of 5 plants per metre.
Aftercare
Crab Apple trees should be pruned in winter.
The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:
- Pests
- Spraying
- Strimming
Pests
When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Vole, Mice 20cm |
Rabbit 60cm |
Hare 75cm |
Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m |
Fallow Deer 1.50m |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
Vole, Mice 20cm |
Vole Guard 20cm |
None required |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Rabbit 60cm |
Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
| Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm |
2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Hare 75cm |
Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
| Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m |
Tubex Tree Shelter 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube 1.20m x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.20m x 300mm |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
| Fallow Deer 1.50m |
Tubex Tree Shelter 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm |
|
Spraying
Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.
The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.
Strimming
Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.
