Apple Tree: dead or worth saving?

I planted some fruit trees last year and one of the apple trees seemed to just die.

Yesterday, I was going to pull it out when I noticed a little spurt of growth right near the base. Does this mean it is worth cultivating? And if it is, should I prune off everything above it?

TIA

 

If it is coming from above where the tree was grafted on to the rootstock, then it is part of the variety you want. If from below then it is part of the rootstock. To keep or not depends on how much remedial work you want to do to get the tree to a good shape and fruitfulness.

 

Thank you Palustris. It is definately coming from above the graft.

What remedial work would be involved?

 

First of all try the thumbnail test on the part of the tree which looks dead. If there is green under the bark then leave it alone and it might revive. If it is really dead, then make a clean sloping cut just above the live growth. This would then become the new leader. You may have to stake it to get it to grow straight upwards. Then you wait until it develops side shoots and treat the whole thing like a maiden tree.

 

Thank you, I shall do the thumb test tomorrow

 

Difficult to tell in the photos if the tree has grass right up to it or not.
Might be worth cutting a small bed around it allowing for easier access to the rain.
Also if treating it as a new tree,add some fresh fertiliser to the soil
(Fish blood and bone or Vitax Q4)