Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
replacing a sick apple tree?
We have an old (?? 40-50 yr old??) apple tree that is knackerred (sounds like me actually); it has canker I think (my wife thinks actually; she has been dealing with it). It is distinctly unhappy looking (also like me) and she want's to replace it (hopefully not like me). If I chop it down can we just plant another in the same spot or do you get replant disease or whetever it is called where you have to avoid growing the same thing again in the same place? Des |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
replacing a sick apple tree?
Des
Apples are a member of the rose family and planting in the same place causes a condition known as replant disease, as I think you have a sneeking suspicion of .. If you want to replant in the same position then you have two choices:- 1. Dig out the area occupied by the roots and replace the soil with fresh non rose soil or 2. Dig a good sized hole ( but not as big as 1,) and put in a bix ccardboard box or line it with cardboard, creating a large cardboard box. The ideal box is like those that fridges come in, good heavy corrugated cardboard. Fill it with fresh soil and plant your tree into it. The cardboard will rot and by the time the tree breaks through, the soil will have refrehed it self. Replant disease isn't actually a disease, more a condition, what actually causes it, isn't really known. However giving the soil a couple of years rest, before planting another rosaceae seems to work. There does appear to be something in the soil that affects the trees and the cardboard seems to act as a barrier to stop the migration of this. I would also advise that you are likely to suffer from canker again. If it is fungal canker, if your tree has it, there will be pleanty of other trees in the neighbourhood that will have it. Canker is easily identifiable at this time of year as looking at the branhes, you will see that the bark has blown off the wood on part of the branches, causing knarled leisions. After flowering, ends of the branches die back (hence blossom end wilt, another name for canker) You say the tree is knackered, how big is it and do you know what kind of apple it is? The reason is to fold. First, if it is on a semi vigourous / vigourous root stock (M111 / M25) you may have some life in it yet. Equally, if it is on a dwarfing root stock , has been pruned and fed (! 4oz growmor / sq yard at this time of year) and you are getting new growth, then it still has vigour left in it. I have seen trees in a knarled state, which with pruning and application of Bordeaux mixture made into a paste painted onto the wounds come back into productive service. A tree of that age is imposing and it will take time to recover that grandure. There will be those who will say that its got a disease, rip it out, it's not going to be productive. I would try, because it can be worth it. I have seen cankered, knarled apple trees removed because it has disease and doesnt produce fruit. Then no tree is replanted. This bemuses me because what is a better sight that a fruit tree in blossom. A good enough reason for planting an apple in my book! What ever you do, good luck Clifford Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
replacing a sick apple tree?
cliff_the_gardener wrote:
[...] I have seen trees in a knarled state, which with pruning and application of Bordeaux mixture made into a paste painted onto the wounds come back into productive service. A tree of that age is imposing and it will take time to recover that grandure. [...] bemuses me because what is a better sight that a fruit tree in blossom. A good enough reason for planting an apple in my book! [...] Hearty agreement here. If you can get a few more productive years out of a fine old apple tree, it's worth the trouble, maybe even for the decorative value alone. We used to have one which still looked great years after falling down and refusing to die! -- Mike. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
replacing a sick apple tree?
"cliff_the_gardener" wrote in message oups.com... Des Apples are a member of the rose family and planting in the same place causes a condition known as replant disease, as I think you have a sneeking suspicion of Thanks for all tat information Clifford. I do not know which variety (inherited when we bought house 2.5 years ago). It is still just about pretty enough to merit its place and teh birds like it so it is not a priority to remove it yet. We are planting some new birches and rowans shortly (arrived bare rooted last week) and the same company have a long list of Apples, inclucing some Irish ones as well as lots of cherries and plums (same replant disease problem as apple I realise) so that prompted the question. Des . If you want to replant in the same position then you have two choices:- 1. Dig out the area occupied by the roots and replace the soil with fresh non rose soil or 2. Dig a good sized hole ( but not as big as 1,) and put in a bix ccardboard box or line it with cardboard, creating a large cardboard box. The ideal box is like those that fridges come in, good heavy corrugated cardboard. Fill it with fresh soil and plant your tree into it. The cardboard will rot and by the time the tree breaks through, the soil will have refrehed it self. Replant disease isn't actually a disease, more a condition, what actually causes it, isn't really known. However giving the soil a couple of years rest, before planting another rosaceae seems to work. There does appear to be something in the soil that affects the trees and the cardboard seems to act as a barrier to stop the migration of this. I would also advise that you are likely to suffer from canker again. If it is fungal canker, if your tree has it, there will be pleanty of other trees in the neighbourhood that will have it. Canker is easily identifiable at this time of year as looking at the branhes, you will see that the bark has blown off the wood on part of the branches, causing knarled leisions. After flowering, ends of the branches die back (hence blossom end wilt, another name for canker) You say the tree is knackered, how big is it and do you know what kind of apple it is? The reason is to fold. First, if it is on a semi vigourous / vigourous root stock (M111 / M25) you may have some life in it yet. Equally, if it is on a dwarfing root stock , has been pruned and fed (! 4oz growmor / sq yard at this time of year) and you are getting new growth, then it still has vigour left in it. I have seen trees in a knarled state, which with pruning and application of Bordeaux mixture made into a paste painted onto the wounds come back into productive service. A tree of that age is imposing and it will take time to recover that grandure. There will be those who will say that its got a disease, rip it out, it's not going to be productive. I would try, because it can be worth it. I have seen cankered, knarled apple trees removed because it has disease and doesnt produce fruit. Then no tree is replanted. This bemuses me because what is a better sight that a fruit tree in blossom. A good enough reason for planting an apple in my book! What ever you do, good luck Clifford Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Is My Apple Tree Sick? (or how to take better care of it) | Gardening | |||
Is my apple tree sick? | United Kingdom | |||
sick apple tree | United Kingdom | |||
sick apple tree | United Kingdom | |||
sick apple tree | United Kingdom |