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Insecure apple tree

Kate the DragonKate the Dragon Posts: 20
in Problem solving
In this garden, new to me, is an apple tree currently nearing 3 metres tall. It had a stake vertically up the stem, but this has rotted away, leaving it swaying in the wind and opening up around the base. We have given it an emergency prop at an angle, but the stem is swollen above the graft, seeming to be teetering on an inadequate root system.  Is there anything we can do to help, will it always need an angled stake?  It has leaves and blossom, looks otherwise healthy.

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    When we moved in to our home many years ago we had a similar apple tree that just wanted to fall over.
    We propped it up and made sure that heavy branches were cut back.
    It is still going strong......40 years later.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Some grafted apples do need staking for life as the rootstock is unable to fully support the grafted tree in the wind.  If you don't stop the wind-rock by staking the lower part of the trunk, the roots will be damaged and result in poor growth, or it blowing down in the wind, if a main root snaps.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Kate the DragonKate the Dragon Posts: 20
    Thank you, I suspected that might be the case.  How high up the tree will it need staking?   Should it be between two tall stakes, as I don't want to hammer too close to the roots?
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