Is my apple tree dead?

[Marktke]

HI,

We recently had two apple trees planted in our garden but due to poor drainage and then root damage one of them died. Our remaining tree then seemed to be damaged too and although it produced around 50 apples, they stopped growing. We then moved this tree into a large container to try and help it but although some of the fruit has grown a little it appears to be dying, for example the leaves have gone brown since. I have attached a picture but we need help as we dont know what to do? Is it dead? If so then i can replace it. Should i prune it right back now, sacrifice the apples that don't seem to be growing much and hope the pruning helps the tree grow? We really want to save it if possible as it produces lots of lovely fruit every year.

Thanks

Mark

[ameno]

If it's losing leaves like that this time of year, it's almost certainly beyond saving.

I'd be dubious of the idea of it dying from too much water this time of year, though. Drought seems far more likely.

[nickdub]

Although probably technically not dead yet, I'd say that your tree is unlikely to make a recovery given what it looks like now, and is on its way out pretty quickly.

What is not at all clear to me is why this tree is dying, or why your other tree died too. Generally trees are pretty tough things, and with a little care when planted in the ground do OK.

You mention waterlogging as a possible cause of the problems you're having, so my first thought would be to decide why you have poor drainage and then to try to think what, if anything, can be done about it. Its obviously pointless buying more trees until you can feel reasonably confident you know what went wrong last time and can figure out how to put it right.

PS flowering and fruit on extremely young trees is often a sign of stress of some kind and not good health, as is sometimes thought. Very young fruit trees should have lots of dark green leaves and be making good growth - flowering and fruiting is for when they get a bit older.

[Marktke]

thanks for your reply. We have terrible clay soil and the trees were planted in an area where it was just not draining so we think the other one drowned and this got damaged in the process. This is no longer a concern as we are using 130L containers to avoid this again but obviously dont know if its too late for the second tree in the picture to survive. What i can add is that i pruned some of the tree and there was good bend and some green inside, even high up which could be a sign it has a chance??

[peanut]

How recent is the photo you've posted? If recent, I would remove all of the fruit and just wait and see if it comes back to life next spring. I wouldn't prune it. What compost have you got it planted in?

[Marktke]

HI, so the picture is yesterday. We have john innes compost in and have treated the trees a couple of times.

[burnie]

I think I would leave it where it is and remove the fruit as suggested and wait and see if next year improves things, nothing to lose I guess. Your heavy clay soil will need improving, what ever you plan to plant there. Maybe a raised bed would be the way to go, at least you will fix the drainage problem that way.

[BeatriceCallan]

I wouldn't let it die really. This year it won't give you any fruit but next year it can. You should get rid of apple and brown leaves. You should take care of the water amount and it will have new green leaves. I am sure you will have apples from it next year.

[Marktke]

ok i have taken the small apples off and we will see how it goes! thanks

[nickdub]

Good luck with it - I'd be interested to know whether it does make a recovery or not. So if you have the time to update us later in the year I'd be grateful to find out the outcome.

[Marktke]

hi, so it is showing some new green leaves after i pruned it back but i now dont know if its confused and trying to fruit. It is not dead though.

[nickdub]

Thanks for the update - my take now, given the recent news is that if its starts into growth again next Spring it will be OK- if not then it will be dead. Possibly the outcome will depend on how wet a winter you have - apple trees hate having their roots waterlogged, even in winter. Quite big trees can be killed by seasonal flooding, if it goes on for weeks. Plums and in particular Pears are much more tolerant of poorly drained ground.

[ameno]

Just to make sure, the new growth is coming from above the graft union, right?
I ask because I've previously had two trees "die" on me, only to have them sprouting from below the graft several months later (meaning the roots were still alive, and only the scion had died).