Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip. Nibbled by rabbits when
young, maybe. In spite of this the trunk and graft look
healthy enough, but the branches, after decent budding and
a few flowers, show only very small leaves that quickly dry
out and fall. They sometimes resprout, but never vigourously;
there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

We haven't seen an apple from it in about 3 years, it's been
in about 10.

My tendency is to call for the neighbor's tractor, and pull
it out. (That of course has problems of its own, as he'll
wait for the soggiest day possible to do it, leaving me to
deal with the ruts afterwards ). I have two conflicting
opinions on this: a friend who is a well known garden designer,
(note, not "dig in earth" gardener), suggests leaving it. The
old fellow who delights in trapping the moles and persecuting
the foxes, and who has lived in the village his 80+ years,
says "elle est KO." in his typically gruff manner.

I've tried any number of potions against insects and diseases
sprayed on in the last several years, to no avail. (It's also
covered with enough lichen to hide most of the buds, but that's
not unusual here). I guess if I do replace it I'll try
to get an old variety that is perhaps more disease resistant.

Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
of this tree? TIA.

-E


--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

In article , Emery Davis
writes
Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip. Nibbled by rabbits when
young, maybe. In spite of this the trunk and graft look
healthy enough, but the branches, after decent budding and
a few flowers, show only very small leaves that quickly dry
out and fall. They sometimes resprout, but never vigourously;
there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

We haven't seen an apple from it in about 3 years, it's been
in about 10.

My tendency is to call for the neighbor's tractor, and pull
it out.

If it were me, I'd get rid of it, on the grounds that fungi don't
usually attack healthy trees, and that fungus is an indication that it's
on its way out.

You could try grafting it if you're keen on the variety.

I wouldn't have thought you'd need a tractor. I've just removed an 8
year old tree.

It probably isn't best to replant in the same place, but if you have to,
dig a *huge* hole and fill it with fresh soil before planting.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , Emery Davis
writes
Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip. Nibbled by rabbits when
young, maybe. In spite of this the trunk and graft look
healthy enough, but the branches, after decent budding and
a few flowers, show only very small leaves that quickly dry
out and fall. They sometimes resprout, but never vigourously;
there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

We haven't seen an apple from it in about 3 years, it's been
in about 10.

My tendency is to call for the neighbor's tractor, and pull
it out.

If it were me, I'd get rid of it, on the grounds that fungi don't
usually attack healthy trees, and that fungus is an indication that it's
on its way out.

You could try grafting it if you're keen on the variety.

I wouldn't have thought you'd need a tractor. I've just removed an 8
year old tree.

It probably isn't best to replant in the same place, but if you have to,
dig a *huge* hole and fill it with fresh soil before planting.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , Emery Davis
writes
Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip. Nibbled by rabbits when
young, maybe. In spite of this the trunk and graft look
healthy enough, but the branches, after decent budding and
a few flowers, show only very small leaves that quickly dry
out and fall. They sometimes resprout, but never vigourously;
there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

We haven't seen an apple from it in about 3 years, it's been
in about 10.

My tendency is to call for the neighbor's tractor, and pull
it out.

If it were me, I'd get rid of it, on the grounds that fungi don't
usually attack healthy trees, and that fungus is an indication that it's
on its way out.

You could try grafting it if you're keen on the variety.

I wouldn't have thought you'd need a tractor. I've just removed an 8
year old tree.

It probably isn't best to replant in the same place, but if you have to,
dig a *huge* hole and fill it with fresh soil before planting.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
of this tree? TIA.

If it has some sort of bracket fungus infection, it will almost
certainly die. I'd cut all the roots so the fungus can't travel along
them and infect other fruit trees' roots they come into contact with,
and get your farmer friend to pull it out ASAP.

I'd then treat heavily the ground with Armatillox and then again, and
again. I wouldn't plant its successor this year.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
of this tree? TIA.

If it has some sort of bracket fungus infection, it will almost
certainly die. I'd cut all the roots so the fungus can't travel along
them and infect other fruit trees' roots they come into contact with,
and get your farmer friend to pull it out ASAP.

I'd then treat heavily the ground with Armatillox and then again, and
again. I wouldn't plant its successor this year.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
of this tree? TIA.

If it has some sort of bracket fungus infection, it will almost
certainly die. I'd cut all the roots so the fungus can't travel along
them and infect other fruit trees' roots they come into contact with,
and get your farmer friend to pull it out ASAP.

I'd then treat heavily the ground with Armatillox and then again, and
again. I wouldn't plant its successor this year.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip. Nibbled by rabbits when
young, maybe. In spite of this the trunk and graft look
healthy enough, but the branches, after decent budding and
a few flowers, show only very small leaves that quickly dry
out and fall. They sometimes resprout, but never vigourously;
there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

We haven't seen an apple from it in about 3 years, it's been
in about 10.

My tendency is to call for the neighbor's tractor, and pull
it out. (That of course has problems of its own,

From the amount of bark ringing, I think it's had it. I wouldn't leave
it to decay and develop fungi and disease within a small orchard.

As it's only been there 10 years, though, there's no need to get a
tractor in, churning up the place. Cut off the branches, leaving a trunk
tall enough to rock for leverage. Then dig a circle about a foor round
the base, and axe and saw your way through the roots. Using the trunk as
a lever, rock it until it's free. Sounds a lot harder than it is.


Janet

On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 21:42:43 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades said:

] The message
] from Emery Davis contains these words:
]
] Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
] replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
] Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
] of this tree? TIA.
]
] If it has some sort of bracket fungus infection, it will almost
] certainly die. I'd cut all the roots so the fungus can't travel along
] them and infect other fruit trees' roots they come into contact with,
] and get your farmer friend to pull it out ASAP.
]
] I'd then treat heavily the ground with Armatillox and then again, and
] again. I wouldn't plant its successor this year.
]

Thanks Kay, Janet, Rusty for the advice. I'll probably go with the "really big
hole" approach, as I've never seen Armatillox here, and indeed it appears
to be being withdrawn for sale in the EU (at least temporarily) anyway.

I'll probably try Janet's method for removal before calling for the tractor,
although I've got a huge (and dead) douglas fir that's got to come out
anyway; no doing that one by hand! Not in the garden proper though:
it fell in a windstorm last winter, I tried to replant elsewhere, (talk about digging
a huge hole), but then it died in the heat and drought last summer. So the
tractor will have to come, but maybe the ruts can be avoided.

Rusty, what exactly is a "bracket infection", if you please? Perhaps my poor
command of english, but as I am american maybe you'll forgive me that much!

-E
--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 21:42:43 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades said:

] The message
] from Emery Davis contains these words:
]
] Unfortunately because it's in a little orchard, any
] replacement pretty much has to go in the same place...
] Would that be a problem? Any opinions on the viability
] of this tree? TIA.
]
] If it has some sort of bracket fungus infection, it will almost
] certainly die. I'd cut all the roots so the fungus can't travel along
] them and infect other fruit trees' roots they come into contact with,
] and get your farmer friend to pull it out ASAP.
]
] I'd then treat heavily the ground with Armatillox and then again, and
] again. I wouldn't plant its successor this year.
]

Thanks Kay, Janet, Rusty for the advice. I'll probably go with the "really big
hole" approach, as I've never seen Armatillox here, and indeed it appears
to be being withdrawn for sale in the EU (at least temporarily) anyway.

I'll probably try Janet's method for removal before calling for the tractor,
although I've got a huge (and dead) douglas fir that's got to come out
anyway; no doing that one by hand! Not in the garden proper though:
it fell in a windstorm last winter, I tried to replant elsewhere, (talk about digging
a huge hole), but then it died in the heat and drought last summer. So the
tractor will have to come, but maybe the ruts can be avoided.

Rusty, what exactly is a "bracket infection", if you please? Perhaps my poor
command of english, but as I am american maybe you'll forgive me that much!

-E
--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

In article , Emery Davis
writes
Thanks Kay, Janet, Rusty for the advice. I'll probably go with the "really big
hole" approach, as I've never seen Armatillox here, and indeed it appears
to be being withdrawn for sale in the EU (at least temporarily) anyway.

I'll probably try Janet's method for removal before calling for the tractor,
although I've got a huge (and dead) douglas fir that's got to come out
anyway; no doing that one by hand! Not in the garden proper though:
it fell in a windstorm last winter, I tried to replant elsewhere, (talk about
digging
a huge hole), but then it died in the heat and drought last summer. So the
tractor will have to come, but maybe the ruts can be avoided.

Rusty, what exactly is a "bracket infection", if you please? Perhaps my poor
command of english, but as I am american maybe you'll forgive me that much!

Infection by a bracket fungus - one that comes out plate-like from the
side of a tree instead f having a stem.

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Thanks Kay, Janet, Rusty for the advice. I'll probably go with the
"really big
hole" approach, as I've never seen Armatillox here, and indeed it appears
to be being withdrawn for sale in the EU (at least temporarily) anyway.

Still obtainable, but it can't be advertised as a fungus killer as it
costs too much to test it to comply with EC rules....

Look at soaps, etc.

Rusty, what exactly is a "bracket infection", if you please? Perhaps
my poor
command of english, but as I am american maybe you'll forgive me that
much!

Infection of bracket fungus. (I did say 'bracket fungus infection') Most
bracket fungi live on dead or dying wood. If you have fungi growing on
the wood, at least that part of the tree is on the way out, or already
gone.

Some (like silver leaf) infect the roots once they have got that far
into the system, and can attack nearby trees if their roots touch. This
is why I suggested lots of Armatillox, and Kay advised on a big hole
filled with fresh soil.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

In message , Janet Baraclough
writes
The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Hello,

We've got a 'grise de canada' (canada grey in english I suppose)
apple tree, that I'm a little undecided as to whether to yank
and replace or stick with a little longer. It's a half high
graft, and the bark around the base of the trunk is gone
except for a perhaps 3 inch strip.

It is probably doomed - especially if fungi have moved in. And it may be
a bad idea to plant another apple or related fruit tree close to where
it came out. Probably worth treating against honey fungus just in case.

there is some branch dieback. Further, last year there was
a large growth of oyster-type (looking, anyway, I didn't try
further identification) mushrooms sprouting from the base.

From the amount of bark ringing, I think it's had it. I wouldn't leave
it to decay and develop fungi and disease within a small orchard.

As it's only been there 10 years, though, there's no need to get a
tractor in, churning up the place. Cut off the branches, leaving a trunk
tall enough to rock for leverage. Then dig a circle about a foor round
the base, and axe and saw your way through the roots. Using the trunk as
a lever, rock it until it's free. Sounds a lot harder than it is.

I'd leave around six feet of trunk on it to use as a lever. You need to
be able to exert maximum leverage to stand a decent chance of digging
one out. A couple of scaffold poles are also useful for this sort of
brute force method.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:11:24 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades said:
[snip]
] Infection of bracket fungus. (I did say 'bracket fungus infection') Most
] bracket fungi live on dead or dying wood. If you have fungi growing on
] the wood, at least that part of the tree is on the way out, or already
] gone.
]
] Some (like silver leaf) infect the roots once they have got that far
] into the system, and can attack nearby trees if their roots touch. This
] is why I suggested lots of Armatillox, and Kay advised on a big hole
] filled with fresh soil.
]
OK, thanks for the clarification. Indeed you did use the "fungus" word.

If these 'shrooms were growing directly out of wood, it was below ground.

Thanks again, I think (as my daughter would say) it's an "ex-tree."

-E
--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

In article , Emery Davis
writes
Thanks Kay, Janet, Rusty for the advice. I'll probably go with the "really big
hole" approach, as I've never seen Armatillox here, and indeed it appears
to be being withdrawn for sale in the EU (at least temporarily) anyway.

I'll probably try Janet's method for removal before calling for the tractor,
although I've got a huge (and dead) douglas fir that's got to come out
anyway; no doing that one by hand! Not in the garden proper though:
it fell in a windstorm last winter, I tried to replant elsewhere, (talk about
digging
a huge hole), but then it died in the heat and drought last summer. So the
tractor will have to come, but maybe the ruts can be avoided.

Rusty, what exactly is a "bracket infection", if you please? Perhaps my poor
command of english, but as I am american maybe you'll forgive me that much!

Infection by a bracket fungus - one that comes out plate-like from the
side of a tree instead f having a stem.

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm