What’s Wrong with These Apple Trees?

sujsuj

Hi all,

I’ve inherited these two apple trees, but something seems off about how they’re growing. This year, they’ve produced way more fruit than leaves, and the branches are so heavy with apples that the fruit is touching the ground.

I’m worried that they may have been pruned incorrectly in the past. Could that be the reason for this strange growth? I’m not sure what type of apple trees these are either.

I’ve attached some photos—any advice from the experts here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

FreeBear

They need pruning back a bit, and it is often worth thinning out the fruits once they've set. But it looks like you might have a bit of canker setting in - That wants cutting out and the prunings burnt, not put on the compost heap or in the green bin.

stuart45

I watched some videos on Utube to learn how to prune them. It's easier to watch how it's done, rather than read about it.

Section62

sujsuj said:

Hi all,

I’ve inherited these two apple trees, but something seems off about how they’re growing. This year, they’ve produced way more fruit than leaves, and the branches are so heavy with apples that the fruit is touching the ground.

I’m worried that they may have been pruned incorrectly in the past. Could that be the reason for this strange growth? I’m not sure what type of apple trees these are either.

I’ve attached some photos—any advice from the experts here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I think they are probably growing on a dwarfing rootstock - so you need to prune them using a method appropriate for that rootstock rather than hoping to get a big tree.  The branches either need to be supported, or kept to a reasonable length.  And as FreeBear says, to get decent apples without killing the tree you need to thin out the crop early so you have fewer fruit (and less weight) but a better quality result.

Bear in mind it can take several years for apple trees to recover from a hard pruning - so do make sure you read/watch how to prune properly.  It is really easy to do long-term damage to fruit trees if you just hack bits off.

alicef

Agree with previous comments re. thinning fruit and doing some research on pruning.  Also, whilst rootstock will, to some extent, control height - and it does look like your tree is on a dwarfing rootstock, different varities have different habits.  I have some apples that are very upright whilst others sprawl - all on the same rootstock.  I'd also check the ties to make sure they aren't cutting into the tree.

sujsuj

FreeBear said:

They need pruning back a bit, and it is often worth thinning out the fruits once they've set. But it looks like you might have a bit of canker setting in - That wants cutting out and the prunings burnt, not put on the compost heap or in the green bin.

Thanks for identifying canker. I will do a close inspection to see how bad it is..thanks

sujsuj

stuart45 said:

I watched some videos on Utube to learn how to prune them. It's easier to watch how it's done, rather than read about it.

I think I need to do that early spring, will watch some and do pruning next year. thanks

sujsuj

Section62 said:

sujsuj said:

Hi all,

I’ve inherited these two apple trees, but something seems off about how they’re growing. This year, they’ve produced way more fruit than leaves, and the branches are so heavy with apples that the fruit is touching the ground.

I’m worried that they may have been pruned incorrectly in the past. Could that be the reason for this strange growth? I’m not sure what type of apple trees these are either.

I’ve attached some photos—any advice from the experts here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I think they are probably growing on a dwarfing rootstock - so you need to prune them using a method appropriate for that rootstock rather than hoping to get a big tree.  The branches either need to be supported, or kept to a reasonable length.  And as FreeBear says, to get decent apples without killing the tree you need to thin out the crop early so you have fewer fruit (and less weight) but a better quality result.

Bear in mind it can take several years for apple trees to recover from a hard pruning - so do make sure you read/watch how to prune properly.  It is really easy to do long-term damage to fruit trees if you just hack bits off.

Looks like I have more videos to watch on this before pruning this time. Thanks!

Farway

sujsuj said:

stuart45 said:

I watched some videos on Utube to learn how to prune them. It's easier to watch how it's done, rather than read about it.

I think I need to do that early spring, will watch some and do pruning next year. thanks

You may need to get stuck in sooner than that.

Winter pruning is for shape / form, and you may decide your tree could do with some branch removal

Don't leave it too late, or you'll get lots of water shoots and a wasted a year

twopenny

Yes, choose a nice day late autumn and get pruning. If possible when it's going to be dry for a couple of days so the wounds dry over before rain.

I thought definitely dwarfing - but I think on closer look it's a middle size type and someone has cut the leader shoot to keep them at picking height - or maybe with the intention of growing them as espaliers. You could very gently encourage one of the central branches upwards and stake it or put out a row of stakes and wires and keep them espaliered so they are easy to pick. This would be a way you only need to do a smaller amount of the correct pruning for the shape and you would get apples next year.

 

If you aren't sure then go back by half and do it on one side so you still get apples the other. Then do the other the next autumn.

I've done this with all sorts of overgrown plants and it's less of a shock, they have time to recover.

Give them a feed in the spring to help them. If you have access to manure you could put some (not too much) around the tree to be taken into the ground over winter to give the roots better soil and healthy leaves.

The tree, especially as these are small so a possible dead branch won't do damage to anyone, can live with the disease if it is that. The trick is to keep them healthy and strong. A good serious pruning may invigorate the tree and help it fight it. Personally I can't see it in the photos.

RAS

No-one's done any pruning on this for years.

Looking at the photographs, this appears to be a tip-bearer or partial tip bearer? Even though you've got some long new growth, most of the fruit is on the end of last year's growth? 

If so, you need to be a little more careful about how you prune, even after getting the tree back in shape.

You've got some long leggy new growth this year. Normally you'd cut that back to three buds before leaf fall ("summer prune") but also risk removing next year's fruit buds if it's a tip bearer.

The other complication is that because it's fruiting on long thin branches, they've all been dragged to the floor. They may bounce back a little once the fruit is off, so it would be a good idea to post new photos after they been picked.

Looks like the birds have started harvesting, so get a couple of mushroom crates and harvest them now. To have retained fruit this late, this will be a late eater so you may need to keep them for a few weeks or until Christmas before they are ready to eat. Cool larder, cellar or rodent proof garage.

And do check the tree tie. It needs to be loose enough to ensure it's not restricting the growth of the girth of the trunk.