Dwarf Apple Trees, Help

Mark144 · August 2016

Hello,

I'm after some advice regarding dwarf apple trees.

I've uploaded some pictures of the problem (I don't know what it is?)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Mark

Redwing · July 2016

Wooly aphids?

Ladybird4 · July 2016

It might be apple scab Mark.

http://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/pest-disease/apple-scab.php

Dovefromabove · July 2016

I see your tree is planted in a pot. what sort of compost is it in and how much water has it had, particularly of late?

It looks as if the tree didn't shed much fruit in the June Drop. I'd be tempted to remove 50% of the fruit you have there - removing the smaller ones and leaving the larger ones, ensuring that they have the space to swell.

Mark144 · July 2016

pansyface says:
FAR FAR FAR TOO MANY FRUITS LEFT ON THE TREE. THIN THEM OUT TO 4 INCHES APART. NOT ENOUGH AIR GETTING INTO THE TREE.

YOU HAVE APHIDS LIVING IN THE CRUSHED TOGETHER LEAVES (CURLED UP LEAVES CONTAIN APHIDS).

YOU HAVE BROWN LEAVES WHICH ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF FUNGAL DISEASE CAUSED BY POOR VENTILATION.

YOU HAVE CANKER ON THE STEM CAUSED BY FUNGAL INFECTION (A DIFFERENT ONE) CAUSED BY POOR VENTILATION AND AIR FLOW.

PULL OFF ALL THE BROWN LEAVES, ALL THE DEAD AND SHRIVELLED FRUITS, ALL THE APHID-DISTORTED LEAVES. TREAT THE CANKER ON THE STEMS OR IT WILL ENCIRCLE THEM AND KILL THEM.

Last edited: 26 July 2016 20:47:17
See original post

Thanks to everyone for the advice. If I pull off all of the brown/dead/shrivelled leaves there will be very little left (if anything!), will this be ok? Also after googling Canker I can see all 3 of the trees are badly infected

Mark144 · July 2016

Dovefromabove says:
I see your tree is planted in a pot. what sort of compost is it in and how much water has it had, particularly of late?

It looks as if the tree didn't shed much fruit in the June Drop. I'd be tempted to remove 50% of the fruit you have there - removing the smaller ones and leaving the larger ones, ensuring that they have the space to swell.
See original post

To be honest I don't know, we have had the trees for years. Watering could be an issue, too little?

Mark144 · July 2016

pansyface says:
PLENTY OF TIME TO REGROW LEAVES.
See original post

Thanks. Are the cankers easy to treat? There seems to be quite a few

Dovefromabove · July 2016

I'd repot them in pots a bit bigger - I'd use a mix of 3 parts John Innes No 3 loam-based compost and one part good quality multi-purpose compost. Check that the stake ties aren't too tight - the trunk needs room to expand.

When you pot them up leave a space of 4" from the top of the compost and the rim of the pot so that when you water you can fill this up, let it soak in and drain away.

And also do everything Pansyface hassuggested.

And give each tree a bucket full of water twice a week in this weather, more if the compost dried out.

Mark144 · July 2016

Thanks again for the advice. I'll get started at the weekend !

Mark144 · July 2016

Little update.

Followed the advice I was given and did some work today/yesterday. Missed a few bits, still a few more cankers to remove but I think it's looking a lot better ?

Thanks again

Last edited: 30 July 2016 14:35:42

Mark144 · July 2016

pansyface says:
LOOKING A LOT BETTER.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT IT ISN'T NECESSARY TO SCRAPE OFF THE BLOWTORCHEDBARK. I HAVE NEVER DONE IT SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!

LET US KNOW HOW YOU GET ON.
See original post

I decided not to use a blow torch, didn't trust myself!

Instead I used a sharp blade to remover the cankers then applied some wound heal

Dwarf Apple Trees, Help

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