lloyd writes
Have a few small crab apple trees with a lovely blossom in Spring but
I dread the idea of all the apples falling at the end of the year, so
I cut off many branches to keep them small. However it turns out the
crabs don't drop their apples and the wildlife is having a field day
feasting on them, especially during the snow.

Why do you dread the idea of them falling?

Presumably you know that you can make a very nice fruit jelly from crab
apples, to serve with fatty meats, or just to eat like jam? Made in the
usual fashion - boil the crabs till very soft, then strain through a
fine cloth or use a fruit press to extract juice, add 1lb sugar for
every pint of juice, boil until a small drop on a cold plate wrinkles
when you push it gently with your finger, then put into jars
immediately.
--
Kay