We have a really old apple tree in our garden. I suspect it's over 100 years old, perhaps dating back to when the house was first built (circa 1860) the area was an orchard before the houses were built.
Anyway, at some point in this poor trees life it has had several very poor cuts made to it. One of its 2 main trunks has been cut and this has gradually rotted out over the past 7 years I've lived at the property. The rot is now in the main trunk where my finger is pointing.
I took the decision to halve the height of the tree in Feb this year as it was in danger of hitting our building if (when) it went down.
I'm looking for any advice really at this stage. As far as I can tell there are 3 options:
- Cut back the main trunk this winter once it's dormant, getting back to good wood.
- Take cuttings and try grow a replacement
- Do nothing and let it run it's course.
Any advice much appreciated.
(for background this is my great grandparents house, so my daughter is 5th generation to live here. I remember this tree from my childhood, as does my mum. It's a family heirloom.)
by Educational-Ground83
3 Comments
Not an expert in any trees, let alone apple trees, but what I do know is that brick circle is likely contributing to the demise of the tree, should remove immediately. Try posting in r/arborists
Whatever advice you receive on how to help this tree, make sure to take cuttings, and if the prognosis isn’t great, you could let nature run its course rather than removing it entirely. (This will support wildlife that lives on veteran trees.)
I think you did the right thing reducing the height. If it were my tree I think I would just leave it be and let nature take its course. I don’t think there really is anything you can do with it rotting internally like that. You could take a cutting and graft it onto a maiden rootstock, or get a fruit tree nursery to do it for you, so you don’t lose the tree altogether.