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Cox Orange Pippin tree not looking too healthy, tips please??
davielovesgravy
Posts: 76
Hi all
i have had a cox orange pippin dwarf tree for a couple of years now, last year we got some apples that did not get to full size so I was expecting this years to be great. In spring things looked very promising, lots of blossom but this changed very quickly and now it looms a shadow of its former self. I have attached lots of pics, can anyone tell me what i can do to revive it please?? I do also have a laxtons superb tree in the same soil a few metres away and that is doing brilliantly So i am stumped....???
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Posts
Hi pansyface, thanks for taking the time to reply. The tree has not been sprayed for mildew, is this something that is necessary for apple trees? How often do i need to do this and with what spray?
The tree gets plenty of sun, gets fed growmore once a week and is watered regularly, if anything it may be that the ground is too wet as we are at the bottom of a bank but the other apple tree is doing fine So that shouldnt really be the problem.
buddyboy, thanks for trying to help, I actually have a Clemantine shrub so your reply was not totally unhelpful.
Cox's Orange Pippin is a bit harder to grow than your average apple (mine also seems a bit fussy), so it might well be the wet ground and that is making more prone to mildew. It also looks like it needs a formative prune as there are really too many branches for it to have a good shape. Have a look at the RHS advice on pruning young apple trees:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=164
Winter pruning will also encourage stronger growth which should help.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi pansyface, thanks again for the advice, I shall stop feeding it straight away and take a tough love approach.
Bobthegardener, thank you also for the pruning info, this should probably have been done last winter, will i need to wait until this coming winter to prune or would pruning now be of any help?
Pruning in the summer (about now) is usually done on older trees to restrict vegetative growth in favour of fruit bud formation. Wait till winter, then follow one of the excellent sets of instructions available - or ask us here.
Coxes have a reputation for being difficult so don't beat yourself up!