Hot-pink spring blossoms of the disease resistant Prairie Fire Crabapple are long lasting.

Flowering Crabapple: Prairie Fire

There are few trees that can approach the beauty of a crabapple in full bloom. But crabapples have had a reputation for being disease prone and having messy fruit. However by careful variety selection, there are several disease resistant (and beautiful) crabapples to choose from. They are valued for their smaller size, flowers and fruit that are attractive to wildlife.

One of the best red leafed crabs is a Prairie Fire. This crabapple has impressive landscape appeal; long lasting hot red-pink flowers, excellent small red persistent fruit, attractive reddish bark and small form. The foliage emerges purple then gradually becoming reddish green. Best of all this variety is very resistant to diseases including scab and mildew. Prairie fire grows upright while young then rounded to 20-feet tall and wide. This is an impressive small tree with 4-season appeal and should have a special place in most landscapes.

Armillaria Root Rot

Armillaria (or shoestring root rot) is a fungus that rots the roots of many different trees and plants. Most often it is found infecting oaks, dogwoods, rhododendron, lilac and conifers like Douglas fir but is reported on over 700 species of plants. Plants that are under stress and are growing poorly are most susceptible. Sudden changes in root environment can trigger infection. The classic situation that I see killing trees, is installing turf and irrigation in the root zone of an oak or fir and then over watering.

(Left) Dead Oak from Armillaria due to changed root environment from lawn installation and over-watering.
(Right) Mushrooms from the Armillaria fungus appear in the fall at the base of infected trees.

Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter

OK, so we’re a little late telling you that fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs because they have all winter and early spring to grow roots and become established before summer heat and dryness come stalking. There’s still time, if you hurry, but the next best time is spring.

We’re not late, though, in reminding you that late fall and winter tree and shrub fertilization is important to maintaining their health and vigor. It replenishes nutrients used up during the growing season, and where top soils have been removed during construction. It also adds nutrients not originally in the soil. Our subsurface fertilizing method injects nutrients into the root zone for easy uptake.

• Thin to decrease wind resistance and damage from snow and ice


• Remove dead, diseased or damaged branches


• Prune and thin overgrown, unsightly trees to shape


• Train trees to a desired shape


• Prune and invigorate old or neglected trees (We’re still keeping Vancouver’s 176-year-old Apple Tree going!)

In the hands of a professional, relatively non-toxic horticultural oils, coppers and daconil are considered acceptable organic control materials. They can be effective for the following:

Effective Dormant Plant Treatments:

A word of caution, though: Dormant treatments aren’t silver bullets. Trees and shrubs still need year ‘round care to control disease and insect problems.

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