Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through lack
of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got severely
pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to, well, basically
to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we had some work needed
doing including a large new workshop / shed etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots of twigs
and leaves but we have a couple of problems with it that I have noticed
today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3 inches
diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen / something like in
the picture

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some variety
like in the following 2 pics

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw04.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants up and
down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in the compost bin
nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe will help
keep the aphids down too.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--
Donnie

"Donnie" wrote in message
...
Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through lack
of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got severely
pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to, well, basically
to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we had some work needed
doing including a large new workshop / shed etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots of twigs
and leaves but we have a couple of problems with it that I have noticed
today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3 inches
diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen / something like in
the picture

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some variety
like in the following 2 pics

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw04.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants up and
down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in the compost bin
nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe will help
keep the aphids down too.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--
Far too severe, IMO. You just cannot cut an apple tree back to the trunk.
who told you to do this, or was this your own idea?
:-(
I would be surprised if it doesn't die.
Tina

On 31 July, 18:55, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
"Donnie" wrote in message

...



Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through lack
of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got severely
pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to, well, basically
to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we had some work needed
doing including a large new workshop / shed etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots of twigs
and leaves but we have a couple of problems with it that I have noticed
today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3 inches
diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen / something like in
the picture

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some variety
like in the following 2 pics

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw04.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants up and
down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in the compost bin
nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe will help
keep the aphids down too.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--

Far too severe, IMO. *You just cannot cut an apple tree back to the trunk.
who told you to do this, or was this your own idea?
*:-(
I would be surprised if it doesn't die.
Tina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lets look at your problems first.
I. Woolly aphid
2. Aphids

The ants are almost certainly milking the aphids so will protect then
to some extent from predators.
I would spray the whole tree with a good insecticide.
When you have cleaned up the pests then select the shoots you want to
grow on to get your tree back into some sort of shape, remove the
rest.
I very much doubt if the tree will die.
I've known people doing what you have done and cutting back all
branches to a couple of feet then grafting in other varieties of apple
onto the cut branches.
My old Dr in Hastings, many years ago had over 30 varieties on one
tree, and it cropped each year.
David Hill

On 31 July, 19:09, Dave Hill wrote:
On 31 July, 18:55, "Christina Websell"





wrote:
"Donnie" wrote in message

...

Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through lack
of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got severely
pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to, well, basically
to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we had some work needed
doing including a large new workshop / shed etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots of twigs
and leaves but we have a couple of problems with it that I have noticed
today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3 inches
diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen / something like in
the picture

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some variety
like in the following 2 pics

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw04.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants up and
down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in the compost bin
nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe will help
keep the aphids down too.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--

Far too severe, IMO. *You just cannot cut an apple tree back to the trunk.
who told you to do this, or was this your own idea?
*:-(
I would be surprised if it doesn't die.
Tina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lets look at your problems first.
I. *Woolly aphid
2. Aphids

The ants are almost certainly milking the aphids so will protect then
to some extent from predators.
I would spray the whole tree with a good insecticide.
When you have cleaned up the pests then select the shoots you want to
grow on to get your tree back into some sort of shape, remove the
rest.
I very much doubt if the tree will die.
I've known people doing what you have done and cutting back all
branches to a couple of feet then grafting in other varieties of apple
onto the cut branches.
My old Dr in Hastings, many years ago had over 30 varieties on one
tree, and it cropped each year.
David Hill- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I should have added
Why not yse it as a support for a climbing rose whilst it is growing
back, should look good.
David Hill

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
On 31 July, 19:09, Dave Hill wrote:
On 31 July, 18:55, "Christina Websell"





wrote:
"Donnie" wrote in message

...

Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through lack
of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got severely
pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to, well, basically
to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we had some work needed
doing including a large new workshop / shed etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots of
twigs
and leaves but we have a couple of problems with it that I have
noticed
today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3 inches
diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen / something like in
the picture

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some variety
like in the following 2 pics

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw04.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants up
and
down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in the compost bin
nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe will help
keep the aphids down too.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--

Far too severe, IMO. You just cannot cut an apple tree back to the
trunk.
who told you to do this, or was this your own idea?
:-(
I would be surprised if it doesn't die.
Tina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lets look at your problems first.
I. Woolly aphid
2. Aphids

The ants are almost certainly milking the aphids so will protect then
to some extent from predators.
I would spray the whole tree with a good insecticide.
When you have cleaned up the pests then select the shoots you want to
grow on to get your tree back into some sort of shape, remove the
rest.
I very much doubt if the tree will die.
I've known people doing what you have done and cutting back all
branches to a couple of feet then grafting in other varieties of apple
onto the cut branches.
My old Dr in Hastings, many years ago had over 30 varieties on one
tree, and it cropped each year.
David Hill- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I should have added
Why not yse it as a support for a climbing rose whilst it is growing
back, should look good.
David Hill

I hope you are right, David.
I don't mind being proved wrong, in fact I hope so. I think the tree will
die. It's diseased already.

Christina Websell wrote:


"Dave Hill" wrote in message

... On 31 July, 19:09, Dave Hill
wrote:
On 31 July, 18:55, "Christina Websell"





wrote:
"Donnie" wrote in message

...

Right, we chopped back the apple tree which had gone mad through
lack of pruning for about 5 years, so earlier this year it got
severely pruned back from having a 15 foot diameter spread to,
well, basically to the trunk as near as damn it. Why? because we
had some work needed doing including a large new workshop / shed
etc but that's by the by.

So, over the last few months it's basically growing again lots
of twigs and leaves but we have a couple of problems with
it that I have noticed today.

1. where one of the larger diameter branches was cut (about 3
inches diameter) there is a strange white fluff / lichen /
something like in the picture



http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw02.jpg

Anyone know what this is and if there's a treatment if necessary?

2. There's loads of green bugs, I'm assuming aphids of some
variety like in the following 2 pics


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...andbobs/gw04.j
pg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw03.jpg

Again, what can I do about them, I don't care if i have to use
pesticides if necessary but I guess I would rather not due to my
chickens / dog / kids

I don't think it's relevant but there's also quite a lot of ants
up and down the tree as there's a bit of an ants nest in
the compost bin nearby.

I have also noticed quite a few of these too which I believe
will help keep the aphids down too.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...dbobs/gw05.jpg

--

Far too severe, IMO. You just cannot cut an apple tree back to the
trunk. who told you to do this, or was this your own idea?
:-(
I would be surprised if it doesn't die.
Tina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lets look at your problems first.
I. Woolly aphid
2. Aphids

The ants are almost certainly milking the aphids so will protect
then to some extent from predators.
I would spray the whole tree with a good insecticide.
When you have cleaned up the pests then select the shoots you want
to grow on to get your tree back into some sort of shape, remove the
rest.
I very much doubt if the tree will die.
I've known people doing what you have done and cutting back all
branches to a couple of feet then grafting in other varieties of
apple onto the cut branches.
My old Dr in Hastings, many years ago had over 30 varieties on one
tree, and it cropped each year.
David Hill- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I should have added
Why not yse it as a support for a climbing rose whilst it is growing
back, should look good.
David Hill

I hope you are right, David.
I don't mind being proved wrong, in fact I hope so. I think the tree
will die. It's diseased already.

I sincerely doubt it will die and Im not sure that the tree itself is
diseased, these are pests its not like the woods rotting etc.

Dave thanks for the advice, I may well think about the rose idea too :-)

--
Donnie

get back to me in 12 months saying this apple tree is fine and bearing
fruit.
I never mind being wrong. If I am, I learn from it.
Tina

I'd b surprised if it did. Our very old Bramley was blown over in the 1987 storm. Since its roots were half out of the ground we assumed t was a goner, and as it completely blocked our garden, we cut off all the branches back to the trunk. But we never got around to dealing with the trunk, and next year it was re-shooting all over the place.

So yes,, it is possible to cut an apple tree right back to the trunk.

But it may take a few years to come back into fruiting.

Sacha wrote:

I have to wonder why you didn't ask advice before you cut it back so
severely? A little at a time is a the preferred method. As it will
be in the way of your shed when and if, it puts out new growth why
not just cut it down altogether?

No actually 2 reasons I didnt cut it down altogether.

1. It was an access issue for the new shed, I didnt need advice on how
to get a shed built past it and the reason for not cutting it down
altogether was that I thought I would give it a chance knowing it will
come back in years to come where I will be able to make a concious
effort to shape it to its surroundings.

and

2. I didn't have a big enough saw to cut the whole thing down, simple
as that.
--
Donnie