Knowledgebase
Browning and falling Apple leaves #879174
Asked July 29, 2024, 8:35 AM EDT
Washtenaw County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Mark,
Soil testing doesn't always reflect what is actually present in the leaves- the specific potassium (or other element) containing minerals affect the mobility of the needed nutrients along with soil microbiology and structure. This leaf curling looks like it could be potassium deficiency, which is inconsistent with your soil test results. If you're concerned you can submit a leaf sample and see what difference there is between your soil analysis and a nutritional leaf sample. We have an older article on leaf sampling from MSU Extension which needs updating, but you would need to submit a sample to a third party lab. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/tissue_analysis_for_monitoring_fruit_nutrition
My experience with Dabinett is that as a tree it always looks a little bit ragged but continues to produce good fruit. I'm not too concerned about the leaves in the pictures. D'Arcy Spice does a little bit better in dry conditions and we've had a pretty wet season, which could stress the tree a little bit. I would wait and see how the fruit turns out later on in the season (if it's bearing fruit this year) and re-evaluate next season if similar issues arise.