Apple Trees

[mshrmit]

I've got two apple trees, and I think they're both dying. One is absolutely ancient and had two hollow limbs that we have already had to cut off. Plus the apples never tasted that good, so I have no problem chopping it down. I'm not really sure what's going on with the other tree, though. It looks healthy, except that it's leaves are all

Comments

[seekinghaven]

I'm certainly no expert on apple trees, so I don't know how much help I can be. I do know that they do eventually get old and die -- perhaps that is what happened with your ancient one.

I recently sold a house in SW Portland, that I had lived in for 20+ years. There were 5 mature apple trees there when I bought the place in 1988. Shortly after I moved in, there was a windstorm that took down one of the five -- it broke near the ground, and the break revealed that it was hollow and rotting inside. The other two, very near it, were still alive when I sold the property last September, although one had seen damage from being overgrown with ivy and nearly strangled. Both were also increasingly challenged by shade as the neighbor's Maple grew ever bigger just across the fence.

Where are you located? There is a very good, environmentally friendly arborist company in the Portland area called Green Options that I would recommend for a diagnosis.

Also, there is a book specifically on growing apples that I plan to invest in: "The Apple Grower: Guide for the Organic Orchardist" by Michael Phillips (available at Amazon.com). It makes the point that although apples have been sown and do grow in many varieties of climates and locations, nonetheless different varieties have particular conditions where they thrive, and although they may grow in other conditions, they may not do well. I needed that reminder.

I plan on adding apples (especially cider apples for cyser) to the woodland property we have just purchased, to further develop the forest there as an edible forest garden.

Good luck with your apple trees.

-Dorothy

[mshrmit]

Thanks for the book title! I will definitely look into it.

I agree with you on the ancient one. It is just it's time. The other tree, however, appears to be fairly young.