apple tree - Ask Extension
To whom it may concern:
Our apple tree is at least 25 years old. This early spring it had beautiful blossom. After the flowers are gone, several ...
Knowledgebase
apple tree #193826
Asked June 24, 2014, 10:47 AM EDT
To whom it may concern:
Our apple tree is at least 25 years old. This early spring it had beautiful blossom. After the flowers are gone, several branches turned brown, with a few or no leaf. I also notice the tree bark has fallen for a few years.
Attached are three pictures. Could you please diagnose the problems and tell us what we should do?
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Yisheng Xu
Our apple tree is at least 25 years old. This early spring it had beautiful blossom. After the flowers are gone, several branches turned brown, with a few or no leaf. I also notice the tree bark has fallen for a few years.
Attached are three pictures. Could you please diagnose the problems and tell us what we should do?
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Yisheng Xu
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
This apple looks like it has been been neglected for several years.
There is a lot of dead wood (leafless twigs) and it has been damaged by fireblight, a bacterial disease.
Fireblight has been especially prevalent this spring on apple/crabapple.
See also: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02907.html and fireblight pictures below.
Since this tree is too large for you to do any pruning, suggest you contact a tree service to remove deadwood now, and prune out fireblighted twigs in Jan/Feb.
There is a lot of dead wood (leafless twigs) and it has been damaged by fireblight, a bacterial disease.
Fireblight has been especially prevalent this spring on apple/crabapple.
See also: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02907.html and fireblight pictures below.
Since this tree is too large for you to do any pruning, suggest you contact a tree service to remove deadwood now, and prune out fireblighted twigs in Jan/Feb.
