Bramley apple problems - identification?

True Bordeaux Mixture is still available here, so if anyone needs some sending over, PM me

 

Thanks H!

 

@Verdun this is the bramley tree today. (It was already there when I bought the house etc) those pics showing the scab were before they were even fully grown or ripe enough earlier in the year. I took them off as soon as I could and had also cleared away all the leaves as soon as they fell. Even used glue bands for the ants to stop them "farming" aphids on it.

I thhought maybe the double pruning might help really thin it out...ie some off now and another good chop later. There seems to be loads of fruit on it so thats why I was taking off big clusters of fruit to stop bugs/disease spreading.

At a total loss really.

 

Ah, ok Snorky now I know what variety of tree you have I suggest the following

Bramley is a tip bearer so pruning is essentially different as is the timing of it.
And, in my experience, is a vigorous, potentially large tree......tends to get congested as yours is
Contrary to spur pruning other varieties I would remove bramley wood this winter.....now is good. Cut back all branches or shoots growing inwards to encourage light and air but you also need to be aware of the need to retain plenty of the previous year's wood; this will produce next year's fruit on the tips of those branches. Removing the tips of every branch means a total loss of fruit.
Remove thin branches ...these will not provide fruit.
Remove all decaying, scab affected wood back to clean healthy wood.
Also check for branches that rub against others and remove them.....but remember the aim is to keep strong upward growing stems so prune back to these points.
Dont be afraid of pruning.......as long as you allow plenty of year old wood for fruit production
I would then resort to summer pruning ...to reduce vigour.....and similar maintenance pruning again next winter.
There are winter sprays.....tar wash used to be effective but now banned....to help control disease.
A feed in spring plus a good mulch should help create and maintain a healthy tree Snorky.
Re ants......I find a moist root run effective in deterring them...????

 

Brilliant...thanks @Verdun I will give it a good prune. In terms of removing the scab from the branches....is that the whiter coloured stuff on the branches?

Will make sure I feed it in the spring too. Difficult to get a mulch on it because of the stones all around it.

As for ants...they're a real nightmare around here. They're not regular ants either - evil red ones. No amount of water puts them off! I dug about 6 nests out of a small allotment raised bed this year - physically moving them out was the only effective way of getting rid.

 

No, 'tis wooly aphid Snorky
Try nematodes for those ants.....those stones are prob encouraging them. Can you remove them?

 

Actually - had not even thought about removing some stones around it. I'll have a dig around and see what is possible.

Sorry - not sure if I was clear - the white stuff on the bark...I thought it was lichen or something? Is that actually wooly aphid muck? lol

 

You are confusin' me Snorky.....I am but a simple cornish yokel.
Lichen is no problem. A healthy, well fed, cared for apple tree will cope very well.

 

Ha ha I'm often causing confusing...probably because I'm thinking of ten things at once! Thanks for the help - will report back over the year! :D