In message , David WE Roberts
writes

"Mike Buckley" wrote in message
...
Hi All

We moved into a house last July, and I was pleased to get a good crop
of (I think) Discovery apples from one tree. The second tree also a
Discovery I think was covered in aphids and only had a couple of
apples on it. I sprayed the aphids off with a hosepipe and looked
forward to two crops in 2010. It doesn't look like it though, the
healthy tree is still healthy and has masses of blossom on it, the
aphids tree doesn't appear to have aphids but does appear to have
powdery mildew. I've had a go at spraying it with some stuff from
the local garden centre but there's very little blossom and no sign
of any coming. The mildew is only on bits of the tree, and it does
look healthier than last year now I've removed the affected parts.
Ladybirds in attendance hopefully dealing with aphids.

Is there anything I can do to help this tree along? I guess it's too
late for this year, but for next? Or is it doomed?

Have you tried feeding and watering the tree?
I suspect that it is covered in pests because it is unhealthy rather
than vice versa.
There is a lot going on in that border and it is possible that the
particular apple tree is coming out worst in the battle for food in
general.

Also, when you cut off bits of the tree was the cut wood healthy (light
coloured) or was there brown staining inside?
It is possible that the tree has some major systemic infection.

From the picture it does seem to have a reasonable amount of leaf so it
isn't completely knackered.
However something is holding it back from flowering.
Feed it up and see if it perks up this year.
Also check the leaves for signs of disease.
I think it will need a year of good strong growth before cropping more.

Also, it may just be an old tree, in which case it may be due for
replacement.




The borders have been hacked back in a pretty big way now, but I guess
there's still competition for food, what are the best feeds?


Pretty sure the wood is healthy, I pruned both in the dead of winter.
The only thing I noticed was that it could probably do with some of the
branches pruning entirely as it's a bit tangled in places.

Neither tree looks old, and the garden is only 17 years old at most as
that's when the house was built. I suspect from what the neighbours have
said that a previous owner paid someone to plant the garden up but
whether that included the apple trees I have no idea. If I had to guess
I'd say the trees were at most 10 years old.

--
Mike Buckley
RD350LC2