Apple Tree - Ask Extension
My MacIntosh apple tree bloomed and produced fruit last year. This year it is dead. It's about twenty years old; there is another apple tree about ...
Knowledgebase
Apple Tree #867841
Asked May 10, 2024, 8:14 AM EDT
My MacIntosh apple tree bloomed and produced fruit last year. This year it is dead. It's about twenty years old; there is another apple tree about 8 feet from it that is fine. I have no idea what happened to it because I didn't use any poisons near it.
Ottawa County Michigan
Expert Response
It's unfortunate when this happens. It can be very hard to determine exactly what happened when a plant like this suddenly dies. Woody plants may not show symptoms immediately when they are damaged. The results of that damage can sometimes appear years later. This is especially true in cases where the roots were damaged by nearby digging or compaction from vehicles. That being said, there are many things that can kill a tree other than herbicide damage.
Keep an eye on your other tree this year and monitor it closely for any disease symptoms on the foliage or any holes in the trunk, as well as loose bark or dying branches.
Here is a list of pests and diseases that commonly affect apples.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/pest_management/diseases
Keep an eye on your other tree this year and monitor it closely for any disease symptoms on the foliage or any holes in the trunk, as well as loose bark or dying branches.
Here is a list of pests and diseases that commonly affect apples.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/pest_management/diseases
