Help identifying tree damage

10 years ago

Total novice here - can anyone tell me if this is pest or disease damage on our Liberty apple tree? The picture is from September (I know...a little behind in dealing with the problem) - now it just looks like holes in the trunk. The tree was planted in Spring 2014, hasn't grown much since, but is budding like crazy right now. The other two apples planted at the same time are significantly larger at this point and very healthy. We're about to have some more landscaping work done, so I'm trying to decide if we should take it out now to prevent whatever this is from spreading to the other two trees, or give it some more time to bounce back. Thanks in advance.

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Comments (4)

Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
10 years ago
It looks like you got a apple tree borer.
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
10 years ago
Ugh...okay. That's what I was afraid of. Any recommendations on how to treat it or guidance on how to know if the extent of the damage is such that we should just rip it out?
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Jean
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Borers typically attack stressed trees.

So where do you live and what do you do to care for the tree?
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
10 years ago
We live in the NY Metro area (zone 6b). The tree is watered via drip irrigation and the soil around it and the other two apples is amended with compost, plant tone and shredded leaves twice a year (fall and spring) under the wood mulch. If I remember correctly, the tree had some slight damage on the trunk when it was first planted and is the only one of the three apples that has had heavy suckering.

I took a closer look at it yesterday and noticed that one of the tunnels actually goes the whole way through the trunk (i.e. I could see daylight through the hole). Maybe it's time to take it out and plant the persimmon that I wanted but wasn't able to fit anywhere else on the property? ;-) When life gives you lemons...