[Luc_H]

Easter is coming in a month. My late GrandParents would force a crabapple or apple tree branch to flower as decoration for Easter dinner. It was such a beautiful traditional decoration and I haven't seen any since they passed away. I want to do it this year since I have both apple and crab in my backyard that need some pruning (a source of potential branches) and I want to share that experience with my family.

I found this reference:
How to Force Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs

But they say it takes from 1 to 6 weeks. Does anybody have experience with crabapple (or apple) that can direct me on the timing? Timing it for Easter would be so magical.
thanks!
Luc H.

[oldschool1982]

Luc,

Given your location in this hemisphere I'm almost certain you would do better trying to contact an Arborist or local University Agriculture/Horticulture department. I'm almost positve you can do more damage than good if you do something that is out of the ordinary.

We have some experience in this since we do a tremendous amount of gardening/landscaping for our own enjoyment. The one sure fire method that has worked for us is to over fertilze. But we're talking flowers in the ground so this doesn't take on the complexity of a tree.

Professional, sound advice will probably ensure and protect the longevity and health of the tree(s). There is a tree service that we use here in VA. Orleans County Tree service (804) 733-4225. They were located in Albion NY (Between Buffalo and Batavia) prior to 1998 and if you call them they may be able to provide information or at the least a contact in that area of the continent.

Good luck.

[Luc_H]

Thanks Oldschool1982,

I edited my statement above... I forgot to mention that I want to force flower <branches> not a tree.
I will take your advice and will contact the botanical gardens or university..
Thanks.
(i still want to hear from anybody that has done this in the past)

Luc H.

[stir it up]

Luc what a lovely thing to think of. I've done it but it was years ago. Martha Stewart had a lot of instructions for it so you might want to try there, or this google produced lots of results

"forcing branches" spring

I think Easter might be on the early side this year for it to be successful with apple in time for easter, but you could always do apple and crabapple for a little later in the season to honor your grandparents. You might have better luck with something earlier flowering like Forsythia. I've done it with various types of spring-flowering species. I would say when you find instructions you're happy with, try a few different types of tree/bush, in case some are more successful than others, and because each will have its own schedule. If you want something earlier, try the bushes that flower the earliest too.

This was posted a while ago, do you have some started?

[nowIamone]

I understand it's the warmth. Warm water and warm air. It's sounds like you have several branches, get a couple in the house and see what happens. Easter comes early this year, so you have no time to waste.

You may find that they start budding and opening right away, once you see that they are responding or have opened , you can prolong by putting into a cooler room. It may help tp set them where they can feel the warmth of the sun through a window.

Alas, I wish I had this problem, the moose came thru and munched mine down to zip one night last October.