Will this get better?

Hi,
Our apple tree has had this "hole" in it for last couple years at least. Just seems to be getting worse. What is it? Considering replacing the tree

 

Did you previously have some kind of tight band around it?

 

It looks like apple canker and quite advanced too.
At that stage it almost envelops the trunk, so it's cutting off the supply of all fluids from roots to leaves.
I think it's probably too late to save now I'm afraid, but see what others think.

 

Yup, it’s not long for this world. The damage might have been caused by a tree tie or a cat scratching on it or a clumsy bit of pruning but it happened quite a long time ago.

 

Ok, thanks. I suspected it wasnt gonna do much good. At least it will be easy to replace at this size!

 

Actually the foliage doesn't look good either, to be honest.

 

Could it survive if cut down to like 10cm above the base? maybe plan for it dying I have seen hawthornes and stuff survive that though

 

Whilst that sounds feasible, the canker will almost certainly have spread within the tree already, so more cankers would likely appear elsewhere in time.

It's a badly diseased tree that's best replaced.

 

I'd agree with @Pete8 . That really isn't worth trying to improve. Better to replace.
These things happen unfortunately.

 

Would it be ok to replace this tree with another apple tree in same spot? Or could the disease be passed on?

 

You could try another variety that is known to be resistant to canker. Lord Lambourne, Discovery and Ellison’s Orange are all claimed to be resistant. But of course, you need to grow an apple that you like the taste of.

 

It can be risky planting another apple in the same spot.
Roses are well-known to suffer if planted where a previous rose has been grown, and apples belong to the same family as roses.

Here's Google's take on it-

It is not recommended to plant a new apple tree in the same location where a tree with canker has been removed, due to the risk of "replant disease". Replant disease can cause the new tree to struggle to establish itself and grow properly. To mitigate this, replace the soil in the planting hole with fresh soil from another area of the garden and consider adding mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole.
Explanation:

• Replant Disease:
  When an apple tree is removed, it leaves behind a population of soil organisms, pathogens, and fungal infections in the soil that the previous tree had coexisted with. These can overwhelm a newly planted tree, leading to replant disease.
• Mitigation:
  To minimize the risk of replant disease, it is recommended to replace the soil in the planting hole with fresh, healthy soil from a different part of the garden. Additionally, adding mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole can help the new tree establish a healthy root system.
• Canker:
  Apple canker is a fungal disease that can affect apple trees. While canker can be managed through pruning and other methods, it's still best to avoid planting a new tree in the same spot to prevent the spread of the disease.
• Other Considerations:
  It's also worth noting that some sources suggest that replant disease is more of an issue for apples than for stone fruits, and that apple trees planted in the same location after stone fruit trees may fare better. However, it's still best to take precautions to mitigate the risk of replant disease when replacing an apple tree.

 

Well every day is a learning day! Thanks @Pete8 would never have guessed the 2 were related. This adds to my abundant fund of useless information I have acquired over the years altho to us gardeners it is useful.