3 separate questions...
Andy Leeds
Posts: 518
Thought it would be easier to pop them all in the same post...
Firstly, my family potted apple tree is looking great, except for this one branch - any ideas?
Secondly, my newly planted (last winter) maiden pear tree has a few leaves curling up - is this an issue?:
Finally, I've noticed a few holes in the lawn, don't think it's ants as I don't see any around, but wonder if I need to do anything about these too (I'll stake them out if anyone needs evidence of what is making them ????). In the below, you can see two holes bottom middle and top right:
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Apple tress are best planted in soil as they're high maintanance in pots. The outward branch is rather thin/leggy and looks unable to support its weight, plus possible forst damage too. I'd prune the branch off.
The new pear needs plenty of water, good soil composition and fertility and recent frosts may have damaged the leaves.
The holes in your lawn look like ant holes. The nest will turn into mounds that will leave unsightly bumps in your lawn.
Andy - you probably have checked this already - but your lame branch on your apple, has it a break where it meets the stalk, come away a bit, or have a puncture of some kind at the bottom?
Other thought - the longer branches look near to touching the fence - has the fence recently been treated with something?
Last edited: 01 May 2017 19:50:37
I don't know much about apple trees, but I would be inclined to remove that branch completely.
Have you looked at the pear tree leaves to see if there are any little critters there that need to be got rid of. If not, I think it needs a large amount to drink probably.
The holes in the lawn look very much like bee holes. I had similar happen to me and there are certain bees that use the ground for nesting. Just leave them alone.
Other posters may have other ideas though.
I agree that the lawn holes look like mining bees. Harmless and beneficial insects, no problem.
Mowtastic, the tree is a 'patio' family tree suggested to grow in a pot, but yes, I agree the best option would be in the ground. Seems like you are with Forestedge in removing the branch..
Yarrow2, the only potential damage I found is as follows:
Also the fence went in Sep 2015 and hasn't been treated with anything.
Forestedge, no bugs on the leaves - I've given it a good drink (thanks), also I'll take yours and Mowtastic's advice in removing the branch... the whole thing or down to a bud below the leaves?
Also thanks for mentioning bee holes (and Onopordum) - I'll leave them alone.
IMHO I'd leave it a while longer. Once you've cut the branch off , it's gone. Leave it to see if it re-shoots, if nothing happens, then think about removing it.
Morning all, been a while since I posted but wanted advice on the apple tree I asked about above. Looking more poorly now, definite browning of more than just that one branch (that I pruned off). Any advice as to what I could do please?
Oh dear this could be canker & pruning out is the only cure which if I have got the top picture right could be the whole stem of the tree. The main trouble with family trees is usually that one graft/ cultivar is too dominant & takes over the whole tree. If it is canker on the main stem then anything above it is doomed- sorry.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=769
The first picture is indeed the main stem.... Thanks for the info.
looks like canker
my advice would be to start again with a new tree and plant it in the ground