Subject: [NAFEX] Trouble in paradise? (apple tree)
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:41:15 -0400
When I first joined this group last year, I told that I had 4 apple
trees, 3 of which I have grafted to multiple varieties. (I have other
fruits; sticking to apples here.)
I'm afraid one of my multi graft trees is doomed. It has taken me a
while to get around to asking the questions. I took these pictures last
September on Labor Day Monday! The problem is that the branches on the
north side of the tree had the leaves turn yellow and fall off early.
About 3 branches were completely bare by the end of September, long
before the first frost and long before any leaves were lost on other
branches and other trees. Twice, over the last 20 years, I have had a
whole tree (one cherry and one plum, I think) loose the leaves early
and, of course, it was completely dead in the spring.
Last of all, here is a picture of the lower trunk. This is the north
side, directly below the bad branches. I certainly assume this is the
source of the problem:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df24b3127cceb36cc2d7dbf100000035103AaNmrJi4Ze After the picture, I did a little poking around and I believe the bark
is alive right at the soil line and below. There seems to be a dead zone
where it looks bad in the picture. Don't suggest that it is lawnmower
damage. I'm the only one who mows the area and I DO NOT touch the trees
with the mower. I'm thinking it is simply some disease which is very bad
news for this tree. I'm expecting the affected branches to be dead this
spring. I will not know for sure until at least 2 more months. So what
happened here? Is there anything I can try, to salvage the remaining
part of the tree?
Steve in the Adirondacks (zone 4 on the map, zone 3 in real life).
[NAFEX] Trouble in paradise? (apple tree),
Steve, 03/16/2008