When planting your flowering crab, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole. Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive.

If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Choose a sheltered spot to protect emerging blossom.

Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches while the tree is dormant during the winter months.

Please note: The decorative pot shown is not included and is for presentation purposes only. Our trees are supplied in standard nursery pots, and the images showing young trees in pots are intended to give an idea of our larger plant’s height and form on arrival. We do offer a wide range of decorative pots separately if you’d like to recreate the look, although for long-term success, trees are best planted in the ground.

Please refer to our rootstock guide above for further assistance when selecting a fruit tree that would be suitable for growing in a large (at least 50cm or 20in Ø) pot, filled with a loam-based (John Innes) compost.