Is it safe to have this tree/bush with a toddler running free?

to GC @carpet_the_walls

Hopefully you won't eat it in front of your toddler then, explain that they are very special berries which only birds can eat. Fabulous way to teach your toddler to look out for the birds which will visit to feed on the berries

 

That was silly of him.

I like beer. I don't save up a whole barrel of it to have in one go. I used to like smoking. Can't say I ever smoked a full 50g pouch of baccy in one go.

 

You'll like it when you come down to mine then

 

I am still here! success.

I have a follow up question please. The tree is bigger than we like, can I harshly prune it back after the apples have gone so as to not deprive the birds?

 

Don't think we've killed anyone yet

You can do, but I think you'll find it'll very quickly try to grow back to the size it is.

Cultivated apples have to be grown on dwarfing rootstocks to stop them becoming enormous. Don't think ornamental ones are, but it'll want to be the height it is all the same.

 

Crab apples do well as part of mixed native hedgerows. But you have to keep on top of them with at least an annual haircut.

 

That one looks like Malus x gloriosa Oekonomierat Echtermeyer, how could you possibly remove a plant with a name like that
I would give it a good pruning, but wait until all the leaves have dropped and you can see what you are doing, apples are pruned during January and February anyway.

 

Thanks for all your help Zigs, clueless1 and scillonian

 

My pleasure

You might want to think about making Crab Apple Jelly, the little'un will love that.

I made crab apple and medlar a few years back, daughter #1 said it was the best thing she'd ever tasted