Inherited Espaliered Apple Tree

[katkatkat]

I have an old apple tree in my garden that looks like once upon a time had been espaliered. It barely flowers, the bottom two limbs haven't really any branches off them and the top is just a crazy tangle of branches.

I don't even know where to begin on considering trying to rejuvenate it and get it productive again.

Any advice anyone can give me would be really appreciated as I'd prefer to save it if I can.

Thanks

[Jungle Jane]

The bottom branch looks like it has another branch coming up from it,that could be productive,did you prune it last year? Sometimes the fruit grows at the ends of the branches,pruning might remove the fruiting areas. I would feed it with some blood,fish & bone scattered round the base of the tree,no pruning yet,I’d be interested to see the flowers/fruit & leaves,some little branches might be bare/unproductive/congested & could be removed,wait till it’s all in leaf to see.

[katkatkat]

I've had two years with it. The first it was severely infested with mealy bugs so I just concentrated on trying to deal with them. Last year I pruned out some dead branches and took a little bit of height off the top so the hedge could be cut properly.

I'll see if I have photos of it from last year. It only produced a few clusters of flowers and no fruit over both years.

[Plot70]

It looks like it is growing in very poor soil.

[katkatkat]

It looks like it is growing in very poor soil.

Yeah the soil is quite clay based with only about 6" before a rocky layer. There's also a New Zealand Flatworm infestation so low earthworm population. I've spent the last two years pouring composts, mulches and organic matter on to all the beds but it's a very slow process that isn't really showing results yet.

A friend who I showed pictures to has suggested there may be canker on the main trunk. Will try and get photos in daylight

[katkatkat]

Based on the idea that dead, dying or diseased branches should be pruned out. I think it is gone. The main trunk right to the ground and second limb have peeling bark and the layer underneath is rotted and black and soft 🙁

[ameno]

I wouldn't worry too much about that. None of those actually look to be diseased. It's mainly damage caused by splitting, which likely occurred due to heavy rain following a period of prolonged drought, and the split parts have already mostly healed over again.

The lack of flowers is probably most down to the thick hedge growing behind it. It's stealing all of the nutrients and water. Also, which way is the fence facing?