Apple Tree - Ask Extension
We have a semi dwarf "Liberty" Apple tree. On the trunk the bark has turned black and is peeling. The tree still produced last year. Can you...
Knowledgebase
Apple Tree #865736
Asked April 24, 2024, 1:23 PM EDT
We have a semi dwarf "Liberty" Apple tree. On the trunk the bark has turned black and is peeling. The tree still produced last year. Can you identify the problen? Should it be removed? Will it infect our other Apple trees?
Iron County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
The black and peeling bark on your semi-dwarf “Liberty” Apple tree could indicate several serious diseases. The symptoms you’re describing are consistent with fire blight or black rot.
Fire blight is a bacterial disease that can cause the bark to appear dark, water-soaked, and purplish, often with red-brown streaking underneath when the bark is removed. It can spread from the collar to the roots or vice versa, and it’s particularly dangerous because it can cause trees to collapse without any obvious signs of disease in the canopy.
Black rot, caused by the fungus Botryosphaeria obtusa, can also infect apple trees, leading to limb cankers that first appear as reddish or pinkish, brown sunken areas. As the canker ages, the wood shrinks and turns black, causing the bark to peel away from the infected area. This can eventually girdle the tree and lead to premature death.
The above diseases might also infect other trees.
It’s recommended that you send all these images by e-mail to the MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab for a precise diagnosis. The experts there can provide you with the best treatment options. Their email is <personal data hidden>. Please include your name. The lab will let you know if they need a sample sent. FYI, the lab may also ask for additional images.
In the meantime, avoid pruning after late July as it can predispose trees to winter injury or delay dormancy.
You might want to consult with a local arborist who can provide region-specific advice to remove the tree. To find an arborist in your Zip Code, go to this link:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
I hope this helps!
The black and peeling bark on your semi-dwarf “Liberty” Apple tree could indicate several serious diseases. The symptoms you’re describing are consistent with fire blight or black rot.
Fire blight is a bacterial disease that can cause the bark to appear dark, water-soaked, and purplish, often with red-brown streaking underneath when the bark is removed. It can spread from the collar to the roots or vice versa, and it’s particularly dangerous because it can cause trees to collapse without any obvious signs of disease in the canopy.
Black rot, caused by the fungus Botryosphaeria obtusa, can also infect apple trees, leading to limb cankers that first appear as reddish or pinkish, brown sunken areas. As the canker ages, the wood shrinks and turns black, causing the bark to peel away from the infected area. This can eventually girdle the tree and lead to premature death.
The above diseases might also infect other trees.
It’s recommended that you send all these images by e-mail to the MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab for a precise diagnosis. The experts there can provide you with the best treatment options. Their email is <personal data hidden>. Please include your name. The lab will let you know if they need a sample sent. FYI, the lab may also ask for additional images.
In the meantime, avoid pruning after late July as it can predispose trees to winter injury or delay dormancy.
You might want to consult with a local arborist who can provide region-specific advice to remove the tree. To find an arborist in your Zip Code, go to this link:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
I hope this helps!
