Question
Is there any way to make my 12 foot crab apple tree stop having apples ? Live in Utica, Michigan, 48314
Tree has grown 6-10 feet in last five years, has way too many apples, thousands it seems. Can I make it stop bearing fruit?
It's a great shade tree and beautiful, just can't handle the mess any longer. Thanks so much for your time and expertise.

Answer
Florel Fruit Eliminator will reduce or eliminate undesirable fruit on many trees. Look at:
Florel?brand Growth Regulator is registered to reduce or eliminate undesirable fruit development on many ornamental trees and shrubs such as: apple, buckeye, carob, cottonwood, crabapple, elm, flowering pear, horse chestnut, maple, oak, olive, pine, sour orange, sweet gum (liquidambar) and sycamore. It also works on many other species that produce nuisance fruit.

Application must be made prior to fruit set; apply at the mid to full-bloom stage in sufficient water to wet (do not spray to run off). Good spray coverage is essential for complete fruit elimination. Apply at 1 quart per 10 gallons of water (3 oz./gallon). The amount of spray used will depend upon the size of the tree.

http://www.montereylawngarden.com/info/florel/

Spraying all the flowers will stop the fruit production for that year.