Container Apple Tree Not In Leaf Yet

[Jo Sara]

I don't think it's looking good for my apple tree, but I thought I'd ask to experts

It's an M27 dwarf tree in a container that started looking a bit sickly last year. The leaves were all yellow, then it got a lot of pests on the leaves and fruit. Eventually I worked out it was waterlogged. The drainage holes in the container had become blocked. So when it was dormant I took the tree out, and replanted it with better drainage around the bottom of the pot (crocks and a bit of gravel as a layer on top before the compost went back in, and it got a good mulch of garden compost last week). My patio cherry tree that's next to the M27, so has the same amount of sun, is in leaf and starting to blossom (that's only happened about a week ago though), another apple tree in a container that's a MM106 rootstock and is in a sunnier spot has been in leaf about 2 weeks now. This M27 isn't showing much of anything happening. It still looks like a 'skinny branched' winter tree, no swelling of the buds, nothing. I've had a little bit of a fiddle in the pot and it's not overly wet, and there are some fibrous roots around, and when I scraped a tiny bit of the bark on one of the branches it's green underneath. Will it recover? Is there anything I can do to help kickstart it back to growing again? Or is it a goner?

Ta in advance for any help you can give.

Jo

[Guest]

Is there anything I can do to help kickstart it back to growing again?

Patience If it is green under the bark there is life it is just taking its time. None of my ground planted apples are out yet let alone my pot ones

[FB.]

Cherries blossom and leaf-out before apples.
Apples on MM106 rootstock tend to leaf-out before those on other rootstocks. Dwarf rootstocks often come out of dormancy late and go into dormancy early.
Being in a less sunny spot will delay leaf-out.
If a tree isn't going to blossom, it tends to show signs of life a bit later than those which will blossom.
It also depends on which variety is grafted to the rootstock - some blossom and leaf-out earlier than others and they can shift flowering/leaf-out groups depending on weather patterns.

Give your tree a few more weeks.

[Jo Sara]

Thanks FB and Norfolk Grey. I don't mind if it doesn't blossom this year FB, I just want it not to die, that would be an achievement given the state it was in last year. I've been looking around in other gardens, and at trees around the roadsides when I've been out and about to see if any didn't have leaves on yet. Most are showing a tinge of green which is why I was starting to get concerned. You've both put my mind at rest now. I'll be more patient with the patient