Apple tree - cankers?

I have inherited an old apple tree (not sure of the variety, but a very nice eater). It fruits well and has accepted my pruning attacks with good grace. It does, however have some quite extensive areas of knotty growth, mainly on the trunk about 3ft from the ground (see pic - sorry about the link: system will not insert the photo for some reason). Are these cankers? Should I worry? Should I cut out the bad bits, wash with Bordeaux mixture etc or just accept that it is an old tree and live with it?

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/Prastio/CIMG4365.jpg

 

Prastio, that certainly looks like canker. Make the most of the plant while you still have it.

 

Yup - There's nothing you can do which will totally remedy the situation. There's probably yonks of life left in that tree anyway. :thumb:

 

Thanks, treeserver, for the positive spin! I guess that I shall have to be careful about cleaning my tools to prevent transfer. Any tips on a good prophylactic?

 

Certainly is canker, From the looks let in by bad pruining cuts.

Let it be for the moment if it still fruits ok or if not cut it down burn and plant another. in terms of sterilising secateurs use a splash of jeyes in a bucket or hand sprayer and dip or spray the secauters between trees or after cutting out any diseaded wood.

 

Pro Gard - not MY pruning, honest Guv.

Thanks for the tip about Jeyes. I use it for many things but didn't know if it would do for this particular job - glad to hear that it will.

I always find the smell of Jeyes reassuringly redolent of disinfectant - the NHS should spray it round their hospital entrances to boost patient confidence!

 

Its certainly good stuff!!

 

Three thoughts
Dettol will do the same secateur sterilising job as Jeyes.

One or two fruit tree growers have a rescue service (Frank Matthews for instance) where they graft a bit of your dying old tree on a new rootstock. Horribly expensive.

Or you could buy a rootstock and do the grafting yourself (not hard - if I can, anyone can). I know that Ashridge Trees sell fruit rootstocks singly for a couple of quid each (I bought one pear and one apple rootstock there last year) but I could not see them on their site just now. Seem to remember they only do it between October and December as they need to establish before being budded in June. From the look of your tree you would have plenty of time to wait until next year..

Good Luck