New sweet sixteen apple tree dying? - Ask Extension
Hi, I planted the apple tree after the Friend’s Mother’s Day plant sale. The leaves are already looking dead and the branches are turning almost b...
Knowledgebase
New sweet sixteen apple tree dying? #873364
Asked June 16, 2024, 8:29 PM EDT
Hi, I planted the apple tree after the Friend’s Mother’s Day plant sale. The leaves are already looking dead and the branches are turning almost black in the periphery of the major branches. Not sure how to best care for my new tree that is failing.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
The tree appears to have suffered severe transplant shock. The following website explains why that occurs and what can be done about it.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#general-pruning-guidelines-264210
When shock-related symptoms are sudden and severe, it's advisable to discuss the plant's condition with the vendor. Many sellers guarantee their stock for a year or more and will replace plants that fail. We don't know what replacement policy, if any, pertains to plants sold at the Friends Plant Sale.
If the dieback continues, the tree is lost. However, if its condition stabilizes, it may be possible to save it by following the guidelines contained in the following publication. In any case, salvaging it will require patience and judicious pruning.
The tree appears to have multiple leaders and other form deficits that need to be corrected. This work will be affected and limited by the dieback.
If you try to save the tree, study the pruning guidelines and follow them as best you can to approximate the central leader form. Depending upon how the tree responds, it may take two or three years to achieve your objective.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#general-pruning-guidelines-264210
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#general-pruning-guidelines-264210
When shock-related symptoms are sudden and severe, it's advisable to discuss the plant's condition with the vendor. Many sellers guarantee their stock for a year or more and will replace plants that fail. We don't know what replacement policy, if any, pertains to plants sold at the Friends Plant Sale.
If the dieback continues, the tree is lost. However, if its condition stabilizes, it may be possible to save it by following the guidelines contained in the following publication. In any case, salvaging it will require patience and judicious pruning.
The tree appears to have multiple leaders and other form deficits that need to be corrected. This work will be affected and limited by the dieback.
If you try to save the tree, study the pruning guidelines and follow them as best you can to approximate the central leader form. Depending upon how the tree responds, it may take two or three years to achieve your objective.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples#general-pruning-guidelines-264210
