[frank4short]

So i've got an apple tree & a pear tree that aren't looking very healthy at the moment. Just wondering if you folks can help in making them healthy again.

The pear was planted in around late january early february, was about 1.5m (5ft) tall when planted, so reasonably mature for a nursery bought tree. Looked good for the the first few months, sprouted leaves & flowers without a bother on it. About maybe a month ago it started to look what i will only describe as unhappy, the leaves were starting to droop despite being watered & well maintained. In the last week or two i've noticed there are some black burn like marks on the top leaves. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what this is? Fungal maybe. & whether they can suggest anything that may help in making it healthy again.

Second instance is an apple tree i got last summer. It's 2 seperate cultivars on one root stalk. As per the pear it's been perfectly healthy up until now. However here's where it differs I've just been out in the garden & unlike the pear it doesn't look unhappy e.g. no droopy leaves. But on one of the 2 stems (the taller, initially healthier looking one) the top leaves are starting to wilt & a number of leaves have brown marks on them. As before i'm just wondering if anyone can suggest a possible problem with it & how to fix it & whether it may be connected to the unhappy pear?

Just for a little reference sake there is another apple tree i planted at the same time as the pear & it seems perfectly happy. There's also a more mature green gauge which is also quite happy & one of my neighbours 2 doors up has 2 mature apple trees in their garden which from my garden don't look as if they have anything wrong with them.

I'll post some pictures of the trees & leaves tomorrow if that helps in the diagnosis.

[michael brenock]

could be either apple mildew or canker, too early for scab, reduce nitrogen levels and increase potash. make sur drainage is alright and tree is tied to a stake. give as much air and sunlight as possible.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[frank4short]

Drainage is good & the garden is south facing. Trees are on opposite sides of the garden so both get sun in the midday. One from the early morning to early afternoon, other from late morning through to sunset give or take. Neither are staked though i'll rectify this shortly. Though in saying that i can't believe i haven't had trouble with the apple before as it's been there through the winter with some extremely heavy winds. I'll get some potash tomorrow anyway if that helps. Any help?

[James Kilkelly]