Posted: 7/27/2025 2:29:50 AM EDT
| So I've got this little apple tree I've struggled to grow for about 8 years and today I just noticed all the leaves are gone, like just the vein of each leaf left. I found one of those red head inch worm things on it, I forget the name I had a thread on here a couple years ago when I got those. Anyways, is the tree dead, or can it grow new leaves and survive? |
|
It’s pretty late in the year but it’s possible. I would water and fertilize it. I would also spray the tree and surrounding ground with a suitable insecticide. I have had some caterpillars get on some oak trees I planted about 15 years ago. I always look at them when I am mowing to see if there is any sign of the caterpillars. When they show up I hit them hard with insecticide. |
West Virginia born and bred
Joined:
Dec 2022
Posts:
8154
EE: 100% (2)
WV, USA
|
Planted this apple tree last year. About a month ago a deer came along and ate off the leaves and tender branches on the lower part. It’s coming back. Attached File |
Montani Semper Liberi
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
|
My wild apples are absurdly resilient. The top one was cut down to about 4' by the dirt work crew a couple years ago and despite heavy trimming this spring is growing like a weed. The bottom one was originally about 15' taller trying to reach the sun. I hacked that bit off and not very gently transplanted it last fall. I'll start trimming it next year. edit, put pics in a spoiler as they showed huge on my screen Click To View Spoiler |
Peace has always been the reign of mediocrities, and pacifism the bleating of a herd of sheep which allow themselves to be led to the slaughterhouse without defending themselves. ~some dead French guy.
|
Originally Posted By FDC: My wild apples are absurdly resilient. The top one was cut down to about 4' by the dirt work crew a couple years ago and despite heavy trimming this spring is growing like a weed. The bottom one was originally about 15' taller trying to reach the sun. I hacked that bit off and not very gently transplanted it last fall. I'll start trimming it next year. edit, put pics in a spoiler as they showed huge on my screen Click To View Spoiler But it appears to be quite a fighter. I'm glad you're giving it a chance! |
|
Originally Posted By GSPatton: That bottom one is the homeliest looking tree ever. Worse than Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. But it appears to be quite a fighter. I'm glad you're giving it a chance! Originally Posted By GSPatton: Originally Posted By FDC: My wild apples are absurdly resilient. The top one was cut down to about 4' by the dirt work crew a couple years ago and despite heavy trimming this spring is growing like a weed. The bottom one was originally about 15' taller trying to reach the sun. I hacked that bit off and not very gently transplanted it last fall. I'll start trimming it next year. edit, put pics in a spoiler as they showed huge on my screen Click To View Spoiler But it appears to be quite a fighter. I'm glad you're giving it a chance! Yep, lol Bought this lot in 2021 and had the house built. Wild, out of control, and fruit producing trees were scattered everywhere through the woods and shot straight up to find the sun. It literally had no branches on it and just a cluster of leaves at the top. Then you have the ones that were on the edge of the clearing originally and they need some serious cutting back. This crazy one in the front yard is already making fruit this year. I need a bucket truck or lift to maybe lob the top off. Click To View Spoiler |
Peace has always been the reign of mediocrities, and pacifism the bleating of a herd of sheep which allow themselves to be led to the slaughterhouse without defending themselves. ~some dead French guy.
|
Originally Posted By Ranman223: If it was healthy before and this is the first major mishap to the tree . I say Yes . It will be like the “ I shall Return “ guy . General so n so . Sorry It was a bare root tree I planted about 8 years ago. I forget what happened, but either the top appeared dead or broke off at the ground the first year, so I pulled it up and threw the root ball off to the side and planted a new tree. Later, maybe the next year, I noticed growth coming out of this root ball laying on the ground, so I replanted it, but it's not in the row with other trees in the orchard. I just wanted to see if it'd grow. Well I ran over it with the mower a year or two. Oops  now it's kind of spindly and about 8 feet tall and has 7 apples on it. Then these SOB moth worm bastards come and strip her. It's the only tree in the orchard they hit. If it comes back it's a miracle, but it probably will.
|
West Virginia born and bred
Joined:
Dec 2022
Posts:
8161
EE: 100% (2)
WV, USA
|
Got me again while we were at the cabin. Attached File |
Montani Semper Liberi
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
|
Originally Posted By Hillbilly62: Got me again while we were at the cabin. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/576126/IMG_7301_jpeg-3597301.JPG Crossbow Time for a fence for a few years. |
Peace has always been the reign of mediocrities, and pacifism the bleating of a herd of sheep which allow themselves to be led to the slaughterhouse without defending themselves. ~some dead French guy.
West Virginia born and bred
Joined:
Dec 2022
Posts:
8178
EE: 100% (2)
WV, USA
|
Originally Posted By FDC: Crossbow Time for a fence for a few years. I believe so. They haven’t touched the peach tree I just planted this year. Deer doing deer stuff. |
Montani Semper Liberi
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
|
Originally Posted By Hillbilly62: I believe so. They haven’t touched the peach tree I just planted this year. Deer doing deer stuff. Originally Posted By Hillbilly62: Originally Posted By FDC: Crossbow Time for a fence for a few years. I believe so. They haven’t touched the peach tree I just planted this year. Deer doing deer stuff. IIRC, peach tree leaves are somewhat toxic. Might not taste good to the deer. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale