Author Topic: Old apple trees? (Read 1002 times)

lonewolf04422 · « **on:** February 17, 2006, 08:32:04 AM »

Well the place my parents bought have around 7 apple trees i dont know what type they are there green and the deer love them last yr we noticed we have 2 apple trees that produce the same size apples but there red anyone know any way to tell how to identify them?

Also one tree hasnt produced since we been here except one year so i "tried" pruning it basically took some old dieing branches off and the ones touching other branches. Also the tree is a little bent and someone said the reason it wasnt producing it because it had 4-5 long straight branches coming from the main branch straight into the air about 6ft so i took them off. All the other trees havent been groomed and produce every yr also noticed a couple more this year while hunting. My main question is if the tree doesnt produce this year should i try fertilizing it? If so with what ive heard something with used coffee grinds and i also have some 5-10-10 leftover from my garden last yr should i put some near the tree?

Swamp Fox · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2006, 04:16:19 AM »

Fruit trees need pruned every other year if you want to maxamize fruiting.
If they haven't been pruned for a while you may want to remove as much as 1/3 of the groth.
There are several good books available that give the details.
If you get a Stark Bro's Nursery catalogue they should have a book that addresses this.
Fertilizing is normally done at the drip line. I've used tree spikes and wood ash but there are other products out there. Fertilizing should be done in late fall/early winter after the leaves drop.

ShadowMover · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2006, 05:29:35 AM »

I'm not an expert, but apples only grow on last year's new growth. So if you get carried away and trim away all the wild looking new shoots you will have no fruit for a year. Don't try to do the whole tree trimming in one or two seasons.

Where I live we have such alkaline limestone filled soil and water that iron shortages are a major problem. This shows up as yellow leaves with green veins in them. I spend more time putting iron supplements in the soil than anything else, as it doesn't last long, and too much will kill the tree. Your fertilizing will have to be in accordance with the soil and needs of your area.

myronman3 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2006, 01:55:16 PM »

this is the damnest thing you ever are going to hear... you need to wake the tree up. hit it around the base with a baseball bat, beat it up a little. i saw it once, and boy does it work. dont ask me why or how, but an old farmer showed me it once and it worked very well.

ShadowMover · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2006, 07:41:52 PM »

If I was an apple tree, the sound of a chain-saw would wake me up

Swamp Fox · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2006, 08:34:41 AM »

I didn't mean to cause such a controversy.

IF the tree hasn't been pruned for a while you may want to remove 1/3 of the branches. The root system can only support a certain number of apples. Buy removing excess branches you give the remaining branches a chance to produce higher quality fruit.

If the tree has well space branches and a good shape this won't be necessary.

jvs · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2006, 12:04:19 PM »

Quote from: myronman3

this is the damnest thing you ever are going to hear... you need to wake the tree up. hit it around the base with a baseball bat, beat it up a little. i saw it once, and boy does it work. dont ask me why or how, but an old farmer showed me it once and it worked very well.

I have never heard of the baseball bat suggestion but I did hear that if you injure the tree, it goes into overdrive to produce seeds so it can propagate. The only way to produce seeds is to produce fruit, so the baseball bat idea isn't that far fetched.