Apple Tree Question

SharonY 2

Hello. Can anyone answer a question please? I bought an apple tree from B&Q earlier this year. It was about 4 foot high and twiggy. I planted it, didn’t expect blossom or anything this year but it’s still just a twig. I’m sure it’s not dead but I’m just surprised no leaves are forming. There are tiny little hard bud type things but nothing that looks like it’s going to sprout. It’s self fertile but my neighbour has about 3 blossoming trees anyway. Is this dormancy normal and if so when is it likely to have leaves and look like a tree? 😂😂

pansyface

Hello,

Can you give us a photo of the tree and maybe a close up of one of the buds?

To add a photo, click on the little icon that looks like a picture above the box where you type and follow instructions.

steephill

Have you watered it since it was planted?

ShepherdsBarn

One way to check if the plant is alive, is to gently scrape a small area of the bark with your fingernail - if it is green under the outer surface it is quite likely alive.

SharonY 2

Thank you. Just been out with a torch lol and yes it’s green.

SharonY 2

steephill said:

Have you watered it since it was planted?

Not really as it’s been in the garden soil. I will water it more. Thank you

SharonY 2

pansyface said:

Hello,

Can you give us a photo of the tree and maybe a close up of one of the buds?

To add a photo, click on the little icon that looks like a picture above the box where you type and follow instructions.

Thank you. I will get a picture tomorrow and upload 👍

Dovefromabove

Trees need regular and generous watering for at least the first two years after planting. Give your tree a couple of buckets full of water poured gently over the root area first thing tomorrow morning. 

It may save its life. 

Then the same three times a week from now until mid September. Start again at the beginning of March. 

🤞

SharonY 2

SharonY 2 said:

Hello. Can anyone answer a question please? I bought an apple tree from B&Q earlier this year. It was about 4 foot high and twiggy. I planted it, didn’t expect blossom or anything this year but it’s still just a twig. I’m sure it’s not dead but I’m just surprised no leaves are forming. There are tiny little hard bud type things but nothing that looks like it’s going to sprout. It’s self fertile but my neighbour has about 3 blossoming trees anyway. Is this dormancy normal and if so when is it likely to have leaves and look like a tree? 😂😂

I’ve added some pictures. I snapped one little twig branch and it’s dry 🙄 but scratched the trunk and it’s green 🤷‍♀️

Dovefromabove

Can we see a photo of the whole tree please?

pansyface

The small twigs which have bark with a ridged appearance are, I would say, dead. The main trunk is still hanging on.

Without seeing the tree “in the flesh” it’s hard to give you a definite answer, but I would suggest that you cut back all the dead twigs to the point where the cut end looks green.

You may end up with a flagpole.  So be it.

If, as others have said, you keep the flagpole watered (not soaking wet) it may well produce new side shoots during the course of the summer.

Or it may not.  In which case a lesson has been learned to keep newly planted trees watered until their roots have had time to grow into the new environment.