Are there any problems with an old apple tree?

A lot of old trees suffer from problems, such as biennial bearing, cankers, powdery mildew, and scabs. They may also become host to rosy apple aphids and woolly aphids. Keep track of these as you prune, then treat them immediately after pruning.

Why are the leaves on my apple tree turning black?

3. The apple leaves are curled and distorted with black sticky patches. Apple tree leaves curled and wrinkled from aphid damage. This is classic aphid damage and is typically most noticeable on the underside of apple leaves.

Where was the last wild apple forest in the world?

Up to 80 percent of the wild apple forests were destroyed. Today, reserves throughout the Tian Shan mountain range keep the last wild apple forests growing safely—except from foraging bears, who don’t care at all about botanical history.

How old are the apple trees on my property?

We inherited two old apple trees on our property. We were told they were more than 100 years old. By my reckoning that makes them ancient. I asked the former owner what I could expect; red or green, sweet or tart?

Why are people renovating old apple trees?

Whether they be abandoned heirlooms or wild seedlings, tucked in the woods or growing alongside an old road, apple trees live on for hundreds of years. More and more people are renovating these old —and sometimes forgotten— trees, not only to enhance production and fruit quality, but also as an act of reverence.

How to bring an old apple tree back to health?

Five steps to bring back fruit on a neglected apple tree, including restoration, pruning, scraping, waiting, protecting. By Mickey Telford | October/November 1995 Even an old, neglected tree can be restored to health. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN JUNG It takes patience to restore a neglected tree. MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

What to look for in an old apple tree?

Look for trees that are unnaturally shaped, with several large, low limbs that grow out flat and show peculiar crooks that reveal years of being pruned—even though the interior of the tree may have a straight, natural-looking central leader. Then choose by taste, nibbling the few puny apples growing in the crowns.

What can you do with a tree patch?

Tree patches are farming patches used by players to grow their own personal trees. Much like other trees, these can be chopped using the Woodcutting skill to obtain logs. The necessary tree seeds to grow them must be obtained from bird nests or other sources.