Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Look for small holes in the fruit.
- Check the tips of new branches for clusters of tiny insects.
- Examine the ground for prematurely dropped fruit.
Likely causes
Codling Moth
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small holes in the fruit with brown frass or debris around the entrance. The fruit often drops prematurely.
What to do: Hang pheromone traps in late spring to monitor moth activity. Apply a fruit tree spray containing spinosad when the petals fall to prevent larvae from entering.
Aphids
PossibleHow to tell: New growth looks twisted and sticky, with tiny green or black insects clustered on the stems. You may also see ants crawling on the branches.
What to do: Spray the tree with a strong blast of water from your hose to knock them off. Use insecticidal soap if the infestation is heavy.
Find out what's wrong with your flowering crabapple
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Worry if the fruit crop is ruined or if the tree shows stunted growth. Minor aphid activity is usually handled by beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the area under the tree clean and encourage natural predators like birds and ladybugs.
Flowering Crabapple: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your flowering crabapple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- How do I stop worms in my crabapples?
- The best way is to time your treatments with the moth's life cycle. Spraying right after the petals fall is the most effective window.
- Are aphids harmful to the tree?
- They can weaken young trees by sucking sap, but established trees usually tolerate them well. Only treat if you see significant leaf curling.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Flowering Crabapple
Back to the Flowering Crabapple guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.