Problems with apple tree

[ninnymary]

Last year I had the same problem and I replaced the tree. This year it is doing it again. The tips of the branches are dying. They look totally dry. They don't look black so I don't think it's fire blight. The rest of the tree looks healthy.

In addition to one dying branch tip, I also have a cluster of blossoms/fruit also dying. Because it's happened twice, I think it may be my soil. The tree has little apples but I think this weekend I will move it to a wine barrel. I don't want to lose it if it's something in the soil.

It also has a branch tip where the leaves are still healthy and green but they are curled as if they have a virus.

Any suggestions?

Mary

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

how's the moisture content in the soil? are you watering it regularly? are there any bugs you've seen running near those areas you're noticing dying?

 

[thistlebloom]

Mary, if you uncurl the leaves and look at the underside, do you see anything suspicious?

 

[ninnymary]

I've been deep watering about once a week. The only thing I've noticed is that there is a tip of leaves that have a very white look to them in the underside. It is at the top of the tree and all of the rest of the leaves are fine. I think it is mildew. No bugs.

Sorry about the pictures being sideways. My camera is not working and my daughter took them with her phone. They were upright when she uploaded them.

Mary

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

your description sounds like it could be powdery mildew. but i'm wondering if it could be something similar to fire blight called nectria twig blight http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/disease_descriptions/nectwgbl.html

this site give you a good list of everything that might affect your fruit trees. so you might want to save it to a bookmark for another time. it's West Virginia University's dept of agriculture. http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/wvufarm1.html

 

[ninnymary]

Chickies, I think you are right and it is Nectria Twig Blight. It seems that the fungus enters through a wound. But the only trimming I did was the lead branch. Supposedly you don't have to do anything but trim off the dying tips. Last year I trimmed the dying tip branches from my old tree and it started getting out of shape. I think Iwill wait and see what happens to this tree. Thank you so much for your research.

Mary

 

[897tgigvib]

Mary, one of the things to begin doing is sterilize your pruning shears by dipping them in a can of rubbing alcohol.

You made a single cut on your new tree. Apple trees are bark sensitive, especially these days when it seems there are new diseases for plants showing up all the time.

At the nursery in Montana, doing pruning, we always had a coffee can half full of rubbing alcohol. I don't like the smell after awhile.

One tree then another with this. Those fungus like something about your conditions. Makes me wonder if there is a biological control for it. Some fungus compete with other fungus.

 

[ninnymary]

Marshall, supposedly it thrives when temps are 70 degrees and slows down when it's past 85. I guess I have the ideal climate. I've had an apple tree here before years ago and I didn't have any problems with it. I'm just so disappointed. I don't think it will make it because once I start cutting off the dead tips/branches the tree will get all deformed.

Thistle, I see bugs on the underside of the leaves that are curled. They look sort of like tiny aphids. There is also some powdery mildew. I don't want a tree that I have to spray but I do want an apple tree so badly.

The nursery where I bought it is really great with returns. I am going to talk to them and see what they say and if they will replace it. I figured I have nothing to lose.

Mary

 

[897tgigvib]

Mary, if they are aphids, first get all tough minded, strong coffee or tea, then go uncurl the leaves and pick them and squish each one. Eeeeeeyuuupeeyuuuey, but is the organic method.

Then get low volume on your hose and spray from the top of the tree downward and spray any you missed off. Use thumb on end of nozzle. Wash them down to the ground. Diatomaceous earth does finish them off. put a good amount on the ground like a thin mulch. it's cheap stuff, 25 pounds 13 bucks. I used it in my greens bed like that last summer for aphids.

it is possible they could be spider mites if you also see little teency spider webs. But your moist climate is not spider mites' favorite condition. Luckily. Aphids are get riddable, the plant survives. spider mites are almost a death sentence.