Source: Fast-Growing-Trees.com (SC)
Size shipped: 5-6', potted
Planted: In ground, November 2018
First flowering: Spring 2019 or earlier
(This plant stayed behind when I moved in 2021; therefore, the following text will receive no further updates.)
The first tree I ever ordered from F-G-T, and a handsome one to be sure -- nicely developed branching while still fitting in the box. Since I planted right next to where the dogwood (died March 2018) had been, I didn't clear probably as much grass as I really should have.
Flowered nicely in spring 2019, after which I shortened the lower limbs (to keep subordinate) and probably removed at least one of the upper ones. Put on about 2' new growth in 2019, but stopped around July. Since it followed a very similar pattern in 2020, I'm guessing that it is just normal for the crabapple to have but one big new growth flush and then stop for the summer.
So far, each year's new growth always ends up producing a few shoots that seem to be competing for main leader status, all showing quite strong apical dominance (very few laterals and all at wide angles). I have been shortening all but one of these each late winter/early spring, as (1) that should cause the most lower buds to break, and (2) apparently you're supposed to prune crabapples only when dormant, if you want to avoid fireblight and other diseases.
July 2019 was also when I spotted a number of leaves with cedar-apple rust. I removed the affected leaves and, after about 2 weeks, I stopped noticing more. A large number of the leaves also appear to have had holes eaten through them by something. I haven't noticed anything troubling about the unaffected leaves though. In 2020, I sprayed Bonide Fung-onil in the spring as the first leaves were emerging and for some weeks thereafter, but it didn't help -- still had rust all over the place in the summer.
October 2019 saw something I hadn't seen before from any of my trees/bushes so far: a root sucker! It grew about 6-7 leaves before I finally noticed it and removed it. I'm confused as to why this would happen so late in the year, and after three months of no growth too; if new growth was going to grow somewhere, why not the crown instead? But according to the University of Florida's fact sheets, some crabapples are known to do this. Just another thing to stay vigilant about...
I should also mention that the deer seem to love rubbing antlers on this tree's trunk every autumn. So far it does not appear to have had serious ill effects, but it certainly doesn't look good.