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Apple tree with blossom wilt?

GraysGrays Posts: 172
in Problem solving
Hi all,
We have a lovely old apple tree that after a quick google seems to be suffering with blossom wilt?
I am very worried that we may lose it as it is the centre piece of our garden.
Has anyone any advice of what to do? Is there a cure, should I maybe find a good tree surgeon to sort it?
The tree also has a lot of mistletoe growing in it (shown in the photos) could this be an issue?
Many thanks for any advice.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We had some very harsh weather and sharp frosts at blossom time … could the blossom have been badly frosted?

    That is a very beautiful tree 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    My tree has the same problem, I put it down to the bad weather .
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Dovefromabove said:
    We had some very harsh weather and sharp frosts at blossom time … could the blossom have been badly frosted?

    That is a very beautiful tree 😊 
    Thank you, we love it too!

    If the blossom was damaged, could we just write off this years apples and hopefully it will recover next year?
    Or is it a problem which could cause lasting damage?

    (don't know why photos were posted wrong way round?)

    Cheers.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If the weather is reasonable next year your tree will be fine and fruiting again.  Worry not 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Thank you, that has put me at ease, would hate to lose it.


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    It seems upon reading up that mistletoe itself doesn't kill a tree, but if there is alot then it can starve the tree and cause death in 10 to 15 years. The only way to thin the mistletoe is to take off the limbs back to another branch. This takes the strain off and allows the nutrition to stay in the tree. Also these trees need more water than usual. 
    Hope this helps.
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    purplerallim said:
    It seems upon reading up that mistletoe itself doesn't kill a tree, but if there is alot then it can starve the tree and cause death in 10 to 15 years. The only way to thin the mistletoe is to take off the limbs back to another branch. This takes the strain off and allows the nutrition to stay in the tree. Also these trees need more water than usual. 
    Hope this helps.
    Many thanks for that, there is rather a lot.

    Just cutting the mistletoe back wouldn't solve the problem then I take it?
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Seems not as the infection is under the bark, it would help with the weight so the limbs don't snap off in high winds though.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Another possibility is fireblight which would be more serious.
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