I could use some opinions on what to do with this tree.
It was the first one that I put into the ground (2015). It had a few years where it showed decent growth but for the past 2 years it’s been lackluster and sort of diseased looking. Thinking that it may be a nutritional issue I’ve top dressed it with compost and soil drenched compost tea a few times throughout the growing season.
It pushes new growth like it’s trying but then it withers, like pictured below, leaving the tree almost bare.
I’m thinking of top working it but is that a good idea or does it seem like I am just prolonging the inevitable?
I think that after 8 years it should be quite a bit further along than that. Don’t know what the rootstock is, but I wonder if a good fertilization program shouldn’t be considered.
I’d dump that dog in a minute. Eight years and it looks like that. Something is majorly wrong and the chances of correcting it are nil. Most likely a root issue.
Start over with a new bare root tree on a known rootstock appropriate for your area and tree size requirements.
@clarkinks yeah I get it. It actually did gain a bit of vigor this year. I cut a larger limb back that suffered fb further up and made my first attempt at a cleft graft. The graft failed but the lack of that limb renewed the tree a bit. For a moment it gave me hope but now I’m not seeing it anymore.
@fruitnut that’s my concern with top working. Keeping an established root system would be great…if that’s not the root of the issue. (The pun was meant to be) I’m thinking of starting a Franklin cider since it is apparently a pretty robust variety then graft in more palatable varieties down the line.
@CRhode nothing beyond what I put down for the trees.
If I wanted to keep it I would seriously consider cutting it 1 feet off the ground. It would be a fresh start and you could even graft something else if you want to change the fruit. If the roots are doing their job it should push up record growth from there in no time.
Idk if that root system is worth saving. Never know what u might see if u pull it up. Hard for me to judge, but I think you might be happier watching a healthy new tree there.
If the roots were doing their job it would have 100 or 1000x in leaves. Something is wrong down low. I’d check the crown area. Maybe it has crown or root rot. Maybe fireblight. Something very serious isn’t right on a tree like that. My newly planted apples on dwarf roots have way more leaves after two months straight of 100 F heat.
With low or no vigor like that, I don’t think grafting would be successful. It reminds me of my old peach tree branches that have lost their leaves and fruit on the interior of the tree. I can graft that interior all day long but the grafts just won’t take. I’ve tried. Imagine a large beautiful healthy tree on that spot as you are yanking it out.
Maybe, maybe not. It is very hard to make broad assumptions with so little to go on. But chopping it down to a foot would give a clean slate to see what’s what.
If I was pressed for a spot I would dig it out. Lately I have way too many things on my plate so chances are I would chop it and just wait and see what happens. Path of least resistance and all that.
