Hey friends,
I grafted about 35 apple trees last year, mostly of multiple-disease-resistant cultivars, but this year they’re showing various problems. Could you help me identify what’s going on?
I’m in southern NH and so far I have sprayed nothing though it’s been a rainy year. Last year I had some chlorosis that was resolved with iron sulfate. Aphids are also present on a minority of these trees. So I guess some of these might be a combo of iron deficiency and aphids.
Warm regards, Jon
I’m not sure. I get those random brown spots on my apple foliage, but I don’t get the leaf burn. I think the leaf curl for the top few pics might be over watering? Really not sure though.
The brown spots are most likely cedar tree rust, so you might determine if your trees are close to cedar. Typically it’s only an appearance issue, but does no harm. I have not had leaf roller aphids on apple, only on my plums. They are difficult to see without a magnifying glass. Usually found on the underside of leaves. It’s easier to prevent them than to remove them once leaves curl up. Dormant winter pre bud swell treatments are best for prevention, if you determine that’s your issue. I can send you the formula that prevents them on my plum trees if you need it.
Dennis
Kent, Wa
First picture looks like sunburn - i see that at my place when the sun is scorching like it has been. Trees recover just fine.
i have had chinese geese several times. the white and brown ones. they’re territorial buggers! they must be super protective with goslings. ours would bite anything that came in the yard including us. couldnt turn your back on them.
Sunburn
I was thinking the same; maybe phytotoxicity after spray? Third one looks like insect damage, maybe stink bug.
Thanks, CAR checks out. Some neighbors allow eastern red cedar to grow on their property borders, the closest of which I’ve noticed is about 300 feet away.
Sunburn checks out for some of the crispy leaves, and it’s reassuring.
Can’t be phytotox cause I haven’t sprayed anything.
Overwatering doesn’t check out, I’m hand watering and sparingly at that. Though it has been rainy, it’s nice sandy loam on a slope so the drainage is excellent.
Will scout for aphids and report back.
Any idea why some of the new growth is minified, pale, and generally yucky looking? Would that be the aphids or PM?
My Chinese goose is named Pippin and she is a sweetheart. Never bit anyone. I can pick her right up.
Her son last year was a bruiser though, he went on the grill.
If you can’t see the aphids try using a spray of warm soapy water and rubbing the leaves between your thumb and fingers, if the aphids come of you might see them as you squish them. Aphids can definitely retard growth since they suck sap from foliage. Curled leaves cannot do normal photosynthesis so the leaves succumb to feeding the aphids. Typically they attack and lay eggs on underside of leaves.
Dennis
So I did find some aphids, but not enough to explain how contorted the growth was IMO. I suspect maybe there were mites or something too.
A pyrethroid resolved the issue and new growth is back to normal so it must have been some kind of creepy crawly.
Thank you, it was invaluable to know this sort of thing is caused by pests, not microbes.
