Help with my apple trees

Hi,  new to the forum and looking for some advice wrt my two apple trees.  We just moved and on our yard are two very overgrown/ poorly kept apple trees.  One has very much out competed the other.  There is still a lot of clean  up to do on both trees and I'm still learning about appropriate care.  The big concern I have is in the pictures attached.  The smaller tree which is being out competed has a few large wounds.  I took off some dead branches that haven't seen much sunlight and there seems to be some healthy tree still there.  I'm trying to determine if the smaller tree can be saved.  If yes, then I'll take some more drastic action towards the bigger tree that is over growing it. If not, the smaller one will come out and we will be sad.
We are striking out with local arborists consultations (understandable with the covid) but would like to get a better idea of what we are dealing with.
Would greatly appreciate any advice.  

Best,

Angus

Ok pro probably am butchering this response. But would make sure you get some good  organic fertilizer  around them. And mulch with shredded hardwood to mimic forest floor. Find other good Apple trees nearby and get some soil sample to transplant some symbiotic fungus. Keep looking at possibly getting some more calcium magnesium into the soil. Dolimite should help. A bit slow. But saving and soaking 30 egg shells in 1 gallon of water for a couple weeks until a bit cloudy. Then use 1 to 4 gallons of water a couple times a year.  See what you can do. Looks like they are starved and crying to me.

Angus Macaulay wrote:Hi,  new to the forum and looking for some advice wrt my two apple trees.  We just moved and on our yard are two very overgrown/ poorly kept apple trees.  One has very much out competed the other.  There is still a lot of clean  up to do on both trees and I'm still learning about appropriate care.  The big concern I have is in the pictures attached.  The smaller tree which is being out competed has a few large wounds.  I took off some dead branches that haven't seen much sunlight and there seems to be some healthy tree still there.  I'm trying to determine if the smaller tree can be saved.  If yes, then I'll take some more drastic action towards the bigger tree that is over growing it. If not, the smaller one will come out and we will be sad.
We are striking out with local arborists consultations (understandable with the covid) but would like to get a better idea of what we are dealing with.
Would greatly appreciate any advice.  

Best,

Angus

Thank you,  I'll give those suggestions things a try.  There are happier trees near by and I know the owner.  I'll see what I can do about soil nutrition then.  I imagine this will be a multi season process.  

Best!

Since you just moved on the property I'm assuming you haven't seen them bloom yet. When I moved onto my property I inherited a bunch (15) trees, mostly no more than 4-5 years and it was the dormant season and I was sure by the look of them that they were half-dead. Shockingly and thankfully they all were remarkably healthier than I expected.

Point is, trees can be tough lil' bastards. Observation will be helpful.

Above mention of soil health, mulching is all great. At some point regenerative pruning will be necessary. I'm a big fan of "The Holistic Orchard," recommended to me by many permies and definitely taught me a great deal about tree care. They can be pruned back and made beautiful again.