Hi Ellen,

Apple trees are rather high maintenance. You didn't mention if you keep your tree pruned to allow for good air flow. That's a whole other topic. Here are some links to look at;

https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en/tcog/TCOG_2012_Growing_Apples_Organic.pdf

https://savvygardening.com/lesson-growing-organic-apples

https://www.eap.mcgill.ca/MagRack/SF/Spring%2091%20G.htm

I am a big fan of bagging my apples. I started doing this years ago and it works great !! I bought inexpensive fruit bags (not plastic sandwich bags) off Amazon.  It takes time but it's become a spring ritual that I enjoy. I pluck off apples if  I feel there are too many while I'm doing it and can really examine the tree.

I recommend keeping all the ground under the branch canopy mulched and plant free. This way you can see and pick up any fallen fruit right away. Add compost once a year and chip over it and make sure it's getting water once a week when we have these droughts. It might help if you get another kind of apple tree, one that flowers around the same time as yours.

 https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/nows-time-prune-apple-trees

Make sure your trees are pruned (when they are dormant).

I hope this helps,

Sally Granath

St. Louis County MG