dying crabapple

[dregs24]

hi everyone

Another tree i noticed a few days ago that has me a bit panicked at the moment- our crabapple. One of the main branches is dying off slowly and i'm hoping someone can tell me why. Ive had the tree about 4 months and i know its badly rootbound and overgrown but was under the impression that if it was kept fairly shaded and well watered over summer it should hold up ok til repotting time, later on this year.
What should my next steps be?

thanks

brett

[Grant Bowie]

hi everyone

Another tree i noticed a few days ago that has me a bit panicked at the moment- our crabapple. One of the main branches is dying off slowly and i'm hoping someone can tell me why. Ive had the tree about 4 months and i know its badly rootbound and overgrown but was under the impression that if it was kept fairly shaded and well watered over summer it should hold up ok til repotting time, later on this year.
What should my next steps be?

thanks

brett

First step treat with Fongarid in case it is root rot. That will usually stop die back, stabilise the tree and buy you some time until your next step. Treat with seasol in another week or so just for the heck of it.

Check stability inpot. If a Curl grub is eating the roots it will wobble.

How is water penetration and drainage? How does soil smell?

Lots of things to investigate.

An eventual repot, maybe even complete soil removal and bare rooting repot if necessary.

Grant

[63pmp]

My suggestion would be to lift the tree out of the pot and plant it in the ground in a sheltered spot. Root bound plants are easy to over-water, by planting the tree in the ground, the soil sucks any excess moisture out of the root ball, improving drainage/aeration. Monitor the root balls moisture very carefully while in the ground. You could investigate if it has rot or curl grubs when its out of its pot, but try not to disturb the roots too much (however much that is?)

Grants suggestions were good too, just another avenue of thought.

Paul

[dregs24]

hi Grant and Paul

Firstly thanks for your help. I just removed it from the pot for the first time (mammoth effort!) and took some poor quality photos that may be of use.
The roots didn't seem overly rotten - around the top layer the roots were obviously old and decayed. The trunk, roots and soil are all firmly tied together with no wobbling. Couldn't find any bugs or worms without digging too deep and the soil smelt very normal to me?
Its had 3-4 good doses of half strength seasol since the start of spring with no major fert. Once wet the soil soaks water up fairly easily considering?
Looking at the root ball i would have guessed it needs to sit in a tub of water for a while??? -but thats a novice guess

cant get the photos up sorry but i'll keep trying.

thanks heaps

[Leigh Taafe]

G'day mate,

Crabapples are highly susceptible to decaying wood. Is there any dieback in the trunk at all? If so, this will need to be cleaned and treated, otherwise the rot will take down your whole tree !! Check all parts of the tree for bark that may look unusual and be easily removed from the tree.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[dregs24]

g'day leigh

at the very base, for the first 3-4 inches up the trunk the bark has a diff look the the rest of the wood on the tree- a cracked up sort of look with deep cracks (splitting) at the rear below the dying branch.
Would it be advisable to take it to a reputable nursery? Can anyone recommend one in melbourne?

thanks

brett

[Grant Bowie]

g'day leigh

at the very base, for the first 3-4 inches up the trunk the bark has a diff look the the rest of the wood on the tree- a cracked up sort of look with deep cracks (splitting) at the rear below the dying branch.
Would it be advisable to take it to a reputable nursery? Can anyone recommend one in melbourne?

thanks

brett

Sounds like that part of the trunk died a while ago with the branch, hence the cracking and different look, as the rest of the tree may be OK.. Treat with Fongarid and it still may be OK.

Leigh bought an extremely valuable and beautifull crab apple back from the death that I thought would die. Check out what he said.

Take it to Bruce at Collectors Corner if you are close.

Grant

[dregs24]

no worries Grant,

i'm listening(reading) and taking everything in- It seems like i've got some of Australia's elite helping me out on this one . I will do the Fongarid treatment straight after work tommorow, and look up Bruce if i feel the sittuation is getting worse.

Thank you greatly.

Brett

[NBPCA]

In melbourne of course their is Trevor McColm at Bonsai Art as well.

There are more but I am getting out of touch with the retail scene down there.

Chack other posts for more Melbourne nurseries.

Grant

[lindsay farr]

One of the most common threats to any fruit tree bonsai in Melbourne are tiny marsupials ( or rats) that eat the new buds at an early stage.
This is difficult to monitor as it happens before you even see the buds.

Naturally the tree withers.

This would be the first thing that I would look for

Cheers
Lindsay

[NBPCA]

One of the most common threats to any fruit tree bonsai in Melbourne are tiny marsupials ( or rats) that eat the new buds at an early stage.
This is difficult to monitor as it happens before you even see the buds.

Naturally the tree withers.

This would be the first thing that I would look for

Cheers
Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,

Is that very common down there? Possums,bats, rats, mice, very small kangaroos? I had never really heard of it.

Grant

[lindsay farr]

Yes, lots of tiny critters nibbling away in darkness all over Melbourne. It's not so bad this year because he wetter season has offered other alternatives. Quince, cherry, apple as well as those plums and apricots that you used to supply Grant. They love 'em.
I see many struggling specimens from all over town and that's the first thing I look for.

It's worth checking for, even as far out as Monbulk.

Cheers
Lindsay

[Grant Bowie]

Yes, lots of tiny critters nibbling away in darkness all over Melbourne. It's not so bad this year because he wetter season has offered other alternatives. Quince, cherry, apple as well as those plums and apricots that you used to supply Grant. They love 'em.
I see many struggling specimens from all over town and that's the first thing I look for.

It's worth checking for, even as far out as Monbulk.

Cheers
Lindsay

Wow, well I never would have thought of that.

Local knowledge is invaluable in a big way!

Grant

[dregs24]

hi everyone'

wow, thats incredible to hear rats may be attacking my crab! I'll be sure to try and keep an eye on that. The tree has only 4 tiny apples on it that have been there for about 3-4 weeks now- does mean i can rule out any attacks?

I spoke to Bruce at length today from collectors corner (top bloke) and he assured me it sounds like a lack of water. Because of the heavily compact soil and the consistant run of hot days we've had down here lately, he feels the tree would not of been able to take in enough water by simply watering with the hose
(he gave me examples of his trees that has had this exact scenario just lately).
Every night i would drench the top, walk away to let it soak then drench again, repeatedly, and the next night it would look bone dry again.

So i have soaked it in a tub of weak seasol for a good hour today and will give it a dose of fongarid over the weekend for good measure.

once again thanks

brett

[Leigh Taafe]

Sounds like good advice! A good soaking under these circumstances will help immensely.

Dont do what a mate of mine in Perth did many years ago.....he forgot about the tree he had submerged in a tub out in the backyard, in full sun, and it got "boiled" in the heated up water. When submerging, once the air bubbles have subsided, it will not benefit from being submerged any longer.

Cheers,
Leigh.