Apple tree issues. Mould. Spots. No growth. Can it be rescued?

[MrJoatmon]

Hello there.
As a relatively new urban gardener, I recently committed the unforgivable sin of buying two cheap apple trees from a bargain shop. I know the first rule is to buy from a reputable source but I was eager and it was cheap. I know. I'm a fool and I'm sure the advice I receive will be buy more sensibly next time but I'm wondering if there is any hope in these trees.
I've removed a couple of leafy buds after a week or so due to a white mould and there are signs of further issues still on the tree.
Both trees (James Grieve and Discovery) look pretty sad and in the last six weeks, there have been no signs of growth.
Perhaps I just need to be patient and it will start to come to life, and maybe I also need to prune the leaves that still show signs of issues.
Any further advice would be appreciated. Including when to look for a replacement if that's the best route. We have a good supplier nearby and I will just borrow a vehicle to transport it when the time comes. I guess I've missed the boat for this season?

For what it's worth, I'm growing everything in containers. These apple trees are in extra large containers with a couple of bags of John Innes No3. The containers are my only real option as I only have a very small patio yard with a greenhouse.

Any advice will help me be a better gardener next time so please be gentle!

[mosstrooper]

Those trees look fine to me, perhaps a little scab which is usual. They will be growing roots before leaves so i would leave them be.

[seasprout]

Your trees look ok all things considered, perhaps a little bit of powdery mildew in the picture with the hand, this is caused by spares no dry at the root.

But your plants look ok, if you've had no blossom then you won't get any apples this year, but it's only their first year so roots are what you need.
I would put some gravel, or bark chips on top of your compost to keep the moisture in those pots.

[seasprout]

And welcome to the vine.

*Waves*

[fishpond]

As has been said they look fine just keep them fed and watered.
Pruning for growth is done in the Winter, bit late for that, so I would leave them alone.

[Lardman]

Might want to get some canes in there, right the way to the bottom of the pots before the roots put on too much growth and you spear them doing it. Id have tipped them back when planting but there's doesn't appear to be too much wrong.

[Kirk]

Appear fine, and as they have in effect just been planted I would not expect them to show much. I have a small one that has been in the same place for a couple of years and not done a lot in the way of growth. The tree is fine and I am hoping that it will do a bit more this year as I have build a bed around it and improved the soil. Equally I suspect the tree will wonder what is going on and do nothing.

Bought 2 fruit bushes at I guess a similar time to you and they were £1 each, decent looking plants and both are little changed. Slightly more green on them now. Guess the shock of escaping £Land alive and getting included in the fruit bed with the above apple is a surprise.

One other aspect is that the weather has been somewhat dry and that could have caused your trees to do little. I have noticed that my veg sit there doing little then take a bit of a growth spurt when we have had rain, then sleep until the next.

It takes a while for the roots to get over any form of replanting.

[MrJoatmon]

Thanks for the replies. I'm quite encouraged that there may still be hope. The curled leaves and patches of white were a bit worrying and I didn't want to leave it too long without advice and risk the whole thing getting infected! Should I just nip off any leaves that get really bad? The ones I removed already were so bad, they had almost disintegrated leaving only a veiny leaf skeleton! Quite sad!.

I'll take on board the advice to add bark or gravel on top of the soil. It's surprising how much the level of soil has dropped despite me firming it down. It was originally to the line you can see in the pic. I might add a little more and then top with bark. I'll stake it while I'm at it. That's been on my "to do" list for a few weeks!

And thanks for the kind welcome to the forum. I've already found lots of good advice that's helping me get my little garden in shape. My next problem is a fierce battle against slugs but there seems to be plenty of advice around that issue!!