I need help identifying what is wrong with this tree

Jan 09, 2016 11:12:15

I have a mature apple tree in my yard which makes relatively scrubby no good apples. I suspect it may have been planted from a seed because I don't get anything consistent from the tree. It has been planted here long before I moved in. I was planning on grafting some scions onto this tree in the spring but started to look up fire blight and other diseases so I went out to look at the tree and this is what I found. The below pictures show some of the marking / damage on the tree. Some of the bark is rather loose around these areas and flakes off. When I took the photos the tree was partially wet which would account for some of the discoloration. Can anyone tell me if this is normal or if this is some sort of disease and if it can be fixed?

Jan 09, 2016 11:16:20

Here are a few more photos.

Jan 09, 2016 11:17:40

That is a grandfather Apple! That has been there a while!

Jan 09, 2016 11:34:51

This house has been here just about 30 years. I wouldn't doubt if its about that old. I am not even sure what kind of Apple it is but they are green. similar to a Golden Delicious and not bad tasting but they are varying sizes and usually drop off the tree before fall.

Jan 09, 2016 11:57:01

Most fruit trees have a shorter lifespan than say an oak or pine, I am interested in what advice you get on this!

Jan 09, 2016 13:35:10

Do you ever see any deer around the tree?

Some of that looks like it might be where a deer has rubbed or eaten the bark ?

Some of that looks like it may be old fireblight that has healed over ?

Jan 09, 2016 13:59:57

There are deer around the tree sometimes but mostly doe. Never saw a buck mess with it. The tree is to big for most bucks....unless it is a monster!

Does fireblite heal or go away after a while? The bark is flaking off, not gouged off.

Jan 11, 2016 08:31:01

I thought more people would respond to this. If this is fire blight, I thought many others would have had similar damage. Fire blight seems pretty common.

Jan 11, 2016 17:10:24

Few appletrees are compoletely without blemishes on trunks. Those marks do not look bad. I believe you would see large fast growing branches and twigs go lack suddenly while in leaf with fireblight. As for poor fruit, apple fly maggots in the fruit can ruin the taste or make it somewhat bitter and pithy. Clean up fallen fruit to lessen the apple fly problem. It is possible that you may not get good fruit after grafting either. I have one healthy tree that gives poor fruit and even on the grafts i put on that tree. Going to take a graft from one of the bad grafts and see it it ruins a new tree. It looks like you dont have much to lose.

Jan 12, 2016 06:51:12

I am not an expert. However, i did a google search of apple tree damage, clicked on More images for apple tree damage. Maybe it's apple tree borrer?

Picture of similar appearing damage to apple tree at http://utahpests.usu.edu/IPM/htm/fruits/fruit-images/fruit-tree-insects/id=507/gid=530# Which did not want to paste here. I'd have given credit!

Discovering the Apple Borer with Michael Phillips

borrer digging video using a wire, as mentioned in above video.
http://waldenheightsnursery.com/videos

Additional links for alternate aflictions in fruit trees...
Diagnostic Keys to Major Tree Fruit Diseases in the Mid-Atlantic Region
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/wvufarm6.html
Apple Fruit Insect Image Directory
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/pest_descriptions/visualkey/awoodviskey.htm

I hope some of this helps.

Jan 13, 2016 10:20:43

I will check out all of those links. Thank you for taking the time to get all of those links and videos! I hope this can be cleared up or at least managed. I am trying my first grafts this spring and hope this possible disease doesn't kill them.

I have read online that some people use white vinegar which is an antibacterial to help manage Fire blight. Has anyone ever tried or have any info on this?

Sep 09, 2025 12:43:15

Did your tree survive? And did you figure anything out? I'm wondering if it's just old age.

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