New here, edible gardener.

Hi all,

I've just started getting into this gardening lark. Myself and my wife have decided to grow lots of edibles, there is much to be done. As you will see from the images.

I'm quite pleased with my composting station

But I need help, or rather my neighbours apple tree needs help, it's suffering from rot inside, and yesterday a big limb broke off with the weight of the apples iv started tidying up and saving the apples but I have no idea what to do about the rot I want to save the tree, does anyone know what's best to help it?

I read someone said clean the rot and and fill the hole with expanding foam, but I don't about that...

My neighbour isn't really interested in the tree and they are happy for me to help it.

Iv made some apples juice with the apples it's quiet nice, I might make some apple rhubarb drink in the future.

I'm happy to share my experience with gardening in the future if I see a question I know the answer too, im happy to throw my 2pence in

Kind regards,
Benjamin

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, I’d say your neighbour’s tree is knackered.

 

Yep, I agree the tree has seen better days, I bet the apples were very sour at this stage.

 

The apple doesn't look to be worth wasting your time on and if your neighbour isn't bothered about looking after it, I'd concentrate on your own garden. At least you've had some apples from it .
Good luck with getting in to "edibles" tho it may help with any further queries if you give a rough idea of your location and your preferences re type of veg/fruit

 

Thanks peeps, yeah I did wonder if the rot was too much, it does look proper deep.

Yeah the apples where a bit sour but if you throw a load of sugar on em they taste lovely and tart in a crumble.

 

Make plenty of crumble and let the neighbour deal with the tree!

Good luck with all your endeavours @Benjamin H - and remember to keep taking the runners from your strawberries to ensure a good crop for future years.

 

Welcome to the Forums.
The tree has definitely had it. It may linger on for another year or two but it is not worth trying to save. Plant yourself an apple tree and let your neighbour look after his own property.
There are many great minds on the forums should you have any queries in the future.
Good luck and enjoy.

 

Welcome. Old apple trees often go like that and the only real approach would be a hail mary hack down to a stump below the rot, to see if it regrows. You would have to wait a few years to begin fruiting again if it did but it would make the tree safer. If not just let it continue as it is and let nature do it's thing.

 

Thanks again peeps.

 

Living wood will heal itself given half a chance. Painting with wound selant or filling with foam will only make matters worse.

I don't see any point in trying to save your neighbour's tree but do advise you cut back to the boundary any branches that hang over your side. This will reduce weight and stress on what remains but do make sure you use sharp loppers and a proper pruning saw and clean your chosen weapons between each cut so you don't spread any disease. The RHS website has plenty fo info on how and when to prune apple trees as well as a video on regenerative pruning on Youtube.

 

Welcome to GC Benjamin. There's no need for me to add to the apple tree dilemma.

 

I've got a very old apple tree with rot in the trunk, what i did to help was to drill a big-ish hole into the bottom of where to rot is so that any water that going into the tree can drain out and not make the rot any worse, if you can clean out any dirt that in in side where the rot is, it will make it last a few more years but in the end it will die

 

Welcome to the forums Benjamin