Can I save this Apple Tree?

11 years ago

Planted this tropic sweet in December of last year. It was doing really well, lots of new growth, and it even had a couple of apples.

Woke up Mother's Day morning and found the tree leaning over at almost at a 90 degree angle..I thought something tried to get the fruit but that wasn't the case because it was still on the tree..

Anyway, take a look, you can see the split right at the base of the root stock, 3 or 4 inches below the graft union...I dug the tree out and wrapped the split as best I could with stretch tape, question is will it survive, or should I pull the plug a get another tree??

Looking at the picture and the angle of the graft union, I'm thinking I probably should have buried it a little deeper. Thoughts, suggestions, what would you do?

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Comments (4)

kbk00
11 years ago
planted like that it's very likely to have problems if it survives at all. There are roots exposed!

If I were you, I'd rebury it, stake it, but buy another tree or two to replace it. I like trying to save plants like this but this will take years to be back to full strength.

If you don't want to hedge your bets with trying to save it, just buy another and toss the old one. Probably would be good to talk to the nursery on proper planting depths, too.
Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
11 years ago
It looks like not worth saving,..it had a crappy graft union from day one and now the split.
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Jeremy Millrood
Original Author
11 years ago
thanks, I was afraid of that..I've already reburied at the correct depth and staked it..not sure why I planted it that way in the first place, should have known better....chalk it up to stupidity..

I'm going to grab another tree as a back up..I have feeling this one won't make it through the summer...
Jeremy Millrood
Original Author
11 years ago
you're right the graft union is pretty bad...