What’s wrong with my apple tree?

davidphillipstratford

I have recently moved home and we have an apple tree in our new garden.

Earlier in the summer we removed a few lower branches just as a general tidy up but we really didn’t take to much off at all.

Over the past month or so a lot of the leaves have started to turn yellow and drop, and I mean a lot of leaves!

I was wondering if this was perhaps caused by the earlier pruning or due to the recent extreme hot weather (I am in the south east) or if there is a more seriously problem with the tree? And if so is it fixable?

Thanks guy.
Dave

Fairygirl

I'd say it's just preserving the moisture it's got available. Lots of shrubs and trees are struggling and dropping foliage, and all evergreens do it anyway, regardless of weather conditions.
Keep an eye on it though - it may be more than that, but someone else will probably have more [and better!] advice 

ZeroZero1

Agreed. My apple trees are doing the same - along with a lot of shrubs, its not unusual. As Apple trees grow and mature they can suffer from various ailments without loosing too much crop. They become like oaks a sort of citidal for a community. The only really problem I have found is the maggot / codling moth which can be dealt with by pheremones. 

Arthur1

If this is due to drought then it will be the oldest leaves that are shed, the ones furthest from the growing point.

Palustris

Also got a bad case of Apple scab there. Same sort of thing which is called Blackspot in Roses. We get it, just remove any affected leaves. Or spray with Copper Sulphate or one of the proprietary fungicides.