Apple leaves

[Headfry]

eeek..... my young (5-6 year old) apple trees are all ill

The young leaves are curling up tightly and some leading tips are going brown and dying back.
Its a little windy up there on the plot and we did have a cold snap a while back, but they should be growing well now- surely? The trees just dont seem to be growing much. They are meant to make a good size tree, all 5 look poorly. only two have fruit set, 8 on each. How long before they should fruit?
These trees were a kind gift (money given to me by my lovely brother to buy them with) I really want them to grow well, what can I do.
Any help please....?

[andrewo]

Hmmm, yes trees can be prone to this on exposes sites, it could also have led to a fungal disease getting into the buds, hence poor crop. What varieties are they? What kind of soil? It sounds like you may be on clay and the trees are suffering between being waterlogged and then dry. It could be a number of things - so let me know the varieties, site etc and I'm sure all of us here will figure something out. Feed them with potash and put down a layer of compost around them in spring. Also, when the buds first appear, spray with bordeaux mix for fungal diseases, and watered down lime for creepy crawlies (both old forms of spray).

[Headfry]

Blenheim Orange, Sunset, Orleans Reinette, Darcy Spice and Bramley (sorry for poor spelling)
The soil is not of clay type, I'm not sure what it is....lots of soft orange/buff stones and fossills!!!! fab!!!
It drains well but not to quickly.
Had another look at leaves, have some green/black fly present - what oragnic 'stuff' can I use? also found little pin head sized, bright green, bugs stuck on the underside of new leaves, they look like little beads and are easy to flick off. they feel like glass!
sorry for this, but I love my trees!

[SueA]

Hi Headfry, it does sound like a combination of needing some water & attack by various bugs causing the problems, as your trres are still young I shouldn't worry too much about fruit as it's best to let them settle in & they will drop any that they can't support by themselves. You can get organic bug sprays from lots of garden centres & from the Organic Gardening Catalogue. They are based on fatty acids & natural products but be careful not to spray any 'good' bugs like ladybirds with it. Or you could use a spray of soapy water which will clear the aphids. I f it won't leave the trees too bare I'd pick off the worst affected leaves & destroy them (ie. don't put them in a compost bin where any disease might survive)
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalo...roducts_id=515

[Headfry]

Many thanks SueA, I will have a look at their web site!