What's wrong with my apple tree? Help please!

[robstott]

Hi,

We planted an apple tree a couple of years ago. To be honest, I don't know much about apple trees - I've not paid it too much attention and left it to do it's thing. However, I've just noticed something 'odd' on it.

It has a sort of woody growth on the trunk where two branches join. The branches joining at that point don't look well. The growth above the trunk seems OK though.

I'm not sure what it is but it *looks* nasty. Anyone know what it is, and what I should do about it?

All advice appreciated.

(see attached pics - you can click them for a closer look!)

[nickdub]

The tree has got canker - best thing to do is to cut the tree though below the canker with sharp secateurs - check the cut surface to make sure it looks white with no dark marks, but if there are marks cut again - with luck the tree will make new growth from what are dormant buds and recover.

If you have other trees sterilise the secateur blades before using them again.

[Jimny14]

Yep, what nick said. Definately canker. Get rid of the affected branches and remove from area. I chuck em in our Garden waste bin, don't compost em and make sure i don't leave any around the area.

[Jay-ell]

Make sure that you cut above the graft as you want any subsequent regrowth to happen on the varieties wood and not the root stocks wood.

Don't let the regrowth bear fruit in its first year (or two) as you will want it to thicken up and strengthen so it can bear the weight of the fruit.

[FB.]

Canker.

Mainstem cankers like that are usually from infection while it grew in the nursery.

Even if you prune the cankered parts off there's a chance that the canker has already spread to other parts of the tree.

Even if it survives rather than withers away over the next few years, what's left of the tree will be severely disfigured, if its appearance is important to you.

Spores might have contaminated the nearby area with the possibility of re-infecting the tree in coming weeks and months, and/or spreading to nearby plants of the apple/rose/rowan family.

If the variety is *that* prone to canker, it might not be worth growing anyway unless you're prepared to start regular spraying.

I would seriously consider removing the existing tree and planting a new, more resistant variety a short distance away.

[robstott]

Firstly, thanks for all the responses and sorry for my delay in replying - holidays and all that.

That's not the news I was hoping for! :-( The cancker is on the main stem about 2ft above the graft. Do you think it's worth a radical chopping off of the main stem below the cancker (and above the graft), and hope a new cancker free shoot takes over?

Thanks again for the help so far.

[nickdub]

Firstly, thanks for all the responses and sorry for my delay in replying - holidays and all that.

That's not the news I was hoping for! :-( The cancker is on the main stem about 2ft above the graft. Do you think it's worth a radical chopping off of the main stem below the cancker (and above the graft), and hope a new cancker free shoot takes over?

Thanks again for the help so far.

You're welcome - Yes, the advice in my first comment stands - cut through below the canker and above the graft - check the cut surface for dark marks and if you see any, cut again - as its a young tree there is a pretty good chance that one the new shoots will eventually form a new trunk.

[robstott]

Just by way of an update - we chopped the stem below the canker and kept going, going to find uninfected wood. Unfortunately it went all the way down to the graft, so the tree has had to come out. Surprisingly upsetting! Ah well, we'll have to choose something non-apple to go in its place and find somewhere else in the garden to plant a more disease resistant variety and cross our fingers, I guess! Thanks again for the help and advice.

[nickdub]

That was hard luck - usually canker only attacks a large branch or trunk as in your case, if there is some physical damage first to the bark - its bit like getting an infection after you have a cut to your skin.

My guess would be your tree was either damaged when you bought it, or possible as it was being transported back to your garden.

[FB.]

Just by way of an update - we chopped the stem below the canker and kept going, going to find uninfected wood. Unfortunately it went all the way down to the graft, so the tree has had to come out. Surprisingly upsetting! Ah well, we'll have to choose something non-apple to go in its place and find somewhere else in the garden to plant a more disease resistant variety and cross our fingers, I guess! Thanks again for the help and advice.

If you choose an apple on a different rootstock it'll probably be fine.
Ideally similar or slightly greater vigour than before. The scion variety grafted to the rootstock will affect how well it grows, too.

I've planted MM111 where M25 or MM106 trees died with no replant problems.
Also planted M25 where MM111 or MM106 trees died.
Also planted M116 where MM106 trees died.
I've even planted M25 where an M25 had previously been and it grew just fine.
Probably other combinations, too.



Also look for a variety that isn't too prone to canker.