I'm so sorry I don't post often here anymore, but I'm always glad to have a place to come with questions!
About 2 years ago, I bought 2 columnar apple trees. Last year, one produced no apples; the other, only a few. Both both have browned leaves. Any idea what's wrong with them?
It is not unusual for fruit trees to not produce for 3 to 5 years after you plant them because it can take that long for the trees root system to become established enough to support fruiting. Those leaves look like they are scorching which is caused by too little water available to the leaves which is soil related. Is the soil these trees are growing in too dry or too wet or was last summer unusually hot and dry so the leaves would have transpired water faster then it could move up the tree? Is the soil these trees are growing in well endowed with organic matter so it is well drained but evenly moist?
The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
Posts: 7931 | Location: Twin Lake, MI USA | Registered: Aug 19, 2004
Kris, take one of your leaves in a zip bag to your county extension office & see if the can ID your problem. If they can't, they should be able to send the leaf to the university for a conclusion.
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
Well, these photos are from last summer. It's possible they were under-watered. We don't get much rain in the summer and the "trees" are in pots (common for columnar apples). I guess I'll see how they do this coming season!
