Apricot tree dying?

13 years ago

Hi all,

First of all I would like to say that English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes.

We've got a very nice apricot three for approximately ten years almost every year, it provides us with extremely many apricots.

However, this year, we've got a serious issue and we are very afraid our tree is dying. The branches of the tree are full of cracks, some bigger branches have fully died and there are everywhere ''lumps'' of resin.

[img]http://i29.tinypic.com/rss8c8.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i26.tinypic.com/2aj9d4.jpg[/img]

[IMG]http://i32.tinypic.com/5djc5l.jpg[/IMG]

[img]http://i31.tinypic.com/10s95hx.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i29.tinypic.com/14dlqwk.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i28.tinypic.com/2884ggi.jpg[/img]

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Comments (4)

emp2
Original Author
13 years ago
Apparently, the way to post pictures is different than I expected. Could anyone be so kind to tell me how to do so?

Thanks in advance.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
13 years ago
emp2:

We don't need pictures to tell that your tree is dying. That is no unusual at 12-15 years age in a humid climate. From your description, the tree could have bacterial canker. There is nothing you can do at this point about your current tree.

Plant a new one and hope it does as well. Almost anyone here would be very happy with 10 apricot crops from one tree.
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They are all on different rootstocks, so that's not the problem. At first I suspected the dormant oil had "sealed in" the pathogen, because it was the first time I had ever tried applying that spray. But looking at the local garden stores, a LOT of their potted and bare-root apricots either have dying branches or are also dead. So I think somehow it is just a bad year for it. Or maybe the dormant oil is the culprit. I don't know. I just know I am watching my precious and rare apricot collection going going gone, now that the whole trees are collapsing and not just a couple of branches. Not all of them, so far at least--I still have my Orangered and Robada trees, and my Nicole I bought last year is doing great. And my Katie/Tomcot/Royal Rosa combination trees have only lost a couple of branches so far. I rarely hope for the heat to set in, because I like it in the 60's, but this year I am glad for my trees we are forecast for the 80's today! Carla in Sac PS Can anyone tell me how to post more than one photo here?
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I have an 8 yeasr vold apricot tree that has been infected by cytospora canker, i asked advice last year and was told to soak a rag with washing up liquid and tie to the infected area, hasn't worked now the desease has spread more the tree is agood shape and i dont want to lose it, so i urgently need help to save it the tree is about 20ft high and spread the bsame though now on of the lower smaller branches have started to wilt. it needs help....
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I agree with Al that you should remove any dead or dying limbs. As to the cause, it is almost certainly the hail, either directly or indirectly. No tree likes having its bark riddled with holes, and this weakens the tree and leaves the door open to disease as well. I had the same thing last year, but in August, which I think was worse because the plants tried putting out new growth like it was spring, only to be hit down again with the first hard freeze in the fall. Long story short, I did lose one of my three apricot trees, a 4-year-old volunteer from seed that was very vigorous and had already produced some fruit. Slower growing trees I think handle these things better. Good luck
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valberry: Watering 1-2x a week won't begin to work here. I need to water potted trees every day. And my trees are in a greenhouse with some shade. So I think you need to water much more. Also you probably need to repot this winter. If you don't get enough chilling it really doesn't matter. You might want to start over with something adapted to your climate. Check with the Orange county chapter of the CA Rare Fruit Growers, CRFG. If you don't find variety recommendations there check for the San Diego chapter. Here is a link that might be useful: CRFG Orange county
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Scott F Smith
13 years ago
I'm not sure you have canker there. Those kinds of major splits I have only seen in extreme temperature swings, say it was 80F one day then down to 20F the next. When trees get physically damaged they can produce a lot of sap. It also makes them more susceptible to canker.

In any case there isn't anything to do but prune out dead bits and see if it recovers. I would think back to see if there was a big temperature swing sometime last winter as that may have done it.

Scott
emp2
Original Author
13 years ago
Not that I know of, but I'll check up some charts to confirm. Although I should note that it has been an usually cold winter, could that alone have been reason for these splits?

An expert is coming next week and I hope he'll be able to determine if it has canker or not.

Many thanks for your help guys. Will keep you updated.

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Apricot tree dying?

Comments (4)

emp2
Original Author

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

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Apricot tree dying?

Comments (4)

emp2Original Author

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

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Scott F Smith

emp2Original Author

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emp2
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