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Neglected apple tree

charliejackcharliejack Posts: 3
in Problem solving
A neighbour has asked me to tidy up a badly neglected fruit tree that they inherited hen they bought the house. On removing a limb that was wrapped around another I noticed a red inner circle on the trunk surrounded by a brown ring inside the bark. Looking to be reassured that this is normal and not a sign of disease. I think that the tree has probably reached the end of its' useful life, but my neighbour does not agree. I have tried to attach a link to a photograph, which hopefully will work.

Thanks in advance.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0nx2Kc61VAsL1Y-pObolhEb5g#Oban_-_Achnacroish

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Have you a photo of the entire tree?  It looks like heartwood to me. Some apples are red all through. It may be something similar.
  • charliejackcharliejack Posts: 3
    fidgetbones said:
    Have you a photo of the entire tree?  It looks like heartwood to me. Some apples are red all through. It may be something similar.

    Thanks for replying. Until tomorrow, this is the only photo I have at the moment. I took it to show my absent neighbour the telephone wires passing through the branches.
    https://share.icloud.com/photos/07-kOjPvnsoQ9ybg3ZkPIHXdQ#Oban_-_Achnacroish

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    I dont think its a problem as such, I saw this online . Maybe it's even prized for woodworkers. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    If the wood in the stained central section of heart wood is as hard as the white areas then I also don't think there's any issue with the tree.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • charliejackcharliejack Posts: 3
    BobTheGardener said:
    If the wood in the stained central section of heart wood is as hard as the white areas then I also don't think there's any issue with the tree.

    Thanks for your reply. The heartwood is indeed as hard as the whiter areas so I am inclined to agree with you. The tree has been neglected for a long time and was “pruned”, but not thinned by a cowboy outfit about three years ago and has since gone to height.
    here is a link to a photo of it as of now. I have taken out some limbs and have yet to cut back the top growth.

    https://share.icloud.com/photos/05funGqzlPZtjluQQHrw-Ps8Q#Oban_-_Achnacroish

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