Red delicious Apple tree problem?

Question

I replaced a golden apple tree as I have a neighbor close by with a diseased cedar tree, this caused the Golden apple to have a  disease called cedar apple rust. Now my Red delicious apple tree, it has been producing apples 2-3 seasons now. I few of the apples are eatable or last season they were. This season I noticed the same problem the apples are too far from perfect, some discoloration and rot. Many of the new limbs growing the very ends 6 to 7 inches will die to grow new ones. Tree is getting plenty of water. Only other problem is the ground does not freeze here in w.tenn. It began to lean at 12 degrees and I straighten the tree out and have it braced straight up and down. A few of the roots at the base are showing and need to be covered with top soil. Any opinions or solutions to the problem will be welcomed.

sciencegravy · Accepted Answer

I'm a little alarmed when you say "tree is getting plenty of water".

I have lots of apple trees.  I *never*, as in, Never, water them.  Rainfall is plenty for an established tree.  If you are somehow regularly watering your apple tree, that is a problem.  It will weaken the tree, possibly is responsible for the tree leaning (as the ground near the surface is probably frequently soft), and is a bad idea generally.  I hope you just meant there has been plenty of rainfall this year.

Dying tips, if they turn black, could very well be fire blight.  Dormant pruning of the affected branches helps - but do this only in the winter, when the bacteria is dormant, or you could simply spread the disease.  More info here:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/fruit/apple-pest-management/fire-blight/

Leaf spot and rust are like the common cold, and most of my apples have it to some degree.  I still eat the apples, they just aren't as perfect as they would be otherwise.  You can spray the tree with a fungicide every 10 days after it finishes flowering, but unless the leaf spot is so bad that it defoliates the tree early, I find that it's not worth treating.

fluffernut · Answer

You know cedar apple rust has an alternate host plant, so unless that plant is eliminated, any susceptible apple variety will get the problem.

Dying tips also makes me wonder about Fire Blight.

Do some web research for your area.  Your Cooperative Extension Service probably has an extensive on line library.......including apple diseases and insects.  Do a search:  Cooperative Extension Service (your state)....might want to put "apple diseases" in there somewhere as well.  If you are having trouble, contact your county agent:  web search....Cooperative Extension Service then you county and state.  Should take you right to the phone number.

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Red delicious Apple tree problem?

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