They tend to be drought-tolerant, but if the rainfall for your area is particularly.
Kathy Halpin May 27,
Dec 23, Most, if not all, new hybrid crabs bloom annually, but older trees may or may not bloom every year. The best time to prune your trees is in late winter or early spring before the leaves appear as it is much easier to see which branches should be removed and also gives the trees the entire spring and summer to form new growth.
The best time to trim (prune) a crabapple tree is in early spring, before the tree flowers and before new growth begins.
Don't worry about interfering with flowering--provided you don't over-prune, your tree will still develop plenty of blossoms from the branches you leave. Jan 25, The ideal time to prune a crabapple tree is late winter or early spring, before the new set of leaves begin to appear.
Like other apples in the Malus genus, crabapples are susceptible to a few diseases that can result in leaf drop, issues with tree form, and weakening of branches.
You can also get away with pruning in mid- or early winter, though this may make the tree more vulnerable to cold-related injury. [1].
Aug 20, Flowering Trees. They should be pruned after blooming, according to the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
Routine pruning of dead or dying branches can be done at any time.

However, your type of tree can have specific needs and rules for trimming. New Trees. Inspect for pruning needs annually. May 18, Plants to Prune During Dormancy. Most trees and shrubs that bloom in summer are usually best pruned in the dormant period in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins.
If a plant is described as"flowering on new wood," it should be pruned during its dormant period, since this gives it plenty of time to create the new wood that.