I think your damage is just wear and tear- trees get thrown around pretty boldly sometimes, and branches get broken or torn off, as is your first shot, and scrapes happen, which is what I think happened in the other shot. I think they'll heal over fine- just scraped elbows or hangnails. It's a "kiss it and make it better" situation. Good luck, and welcome to your new addiction. Mark

Don't prune off anything green. The tree needs that for photosynthesis. Sparrows don't eat leaves neither does any other bird. Sometimes birds do eat fruit buds. An insect is much more likely but if leaf loss is severe you should see something.

where are you in z5?? in my z5 MI .. i would tuck then in on the north side of the house.. when the ground freezes .. i would tip over the pot ... and as i shoveled snow of the sidewalk .. i would bury it in snow .. if any ... the snow actually insulates then from frigid winter winds.. and temp spikes .. they are a deciduous tree.. they were supposed to lose their leaves months ago .. i suspect you may have been feeding them .. trees dont need a lot of fert in a pot ... the sprouting seedling is way out of phase or kilter.. who knows if that one will live.. dormant trees do NOT need a lot of water .. and i tip them over.. so a frozen pot.. will not accumulate rain or melting snow.. in frozen media ... roots need air as much as other things.. and freezing them into an ice cube is not helpful ... and NEVER leave a black pot in winter sun.. it can warm and heat too much ... making the roots come out of dormancy while the rest of the tree is dormant .. this is all about my z5 adrian MI ... and i am sure all colder zone ... ken

the issue .. is whether the tree was grafted... and therefore.. whether what you actually have.. is a choosen variety ... or just watersprouts ... or understock trees... which may not be valuable apples ... once you determine whether you have a valuable tree .... then you start worrying about spraying it with chemicals ... presuming that you have a good tree .... you have 2 options... one million crumby apples.. or 1000 good sized apples ... you have to restrict.. or limit the amount of flowers that actually begin to develop .... i have no idea how to do that ... all i do know is that you have to use chemicals... perhaps as much as twice a month for the whole growing period .... for a slew of bugs and diseases ... it was at that point.. with the kids.. that i decided that it was cheaper.. AND HEALTHIER.. to just go buy the apples.. rather than poison the earth .. trying to do the impossible ... there is a fruit forum ... and there are .. or used to be.. experts specific to fruit .. rather than trees ... ken PS:.. how do you inherit a tree????? do you mean it was on the property when you obtained the house???? if it came with the house .. consider how easy it would be.. to buy a good tree for under $50 ... and start over.. rather than battling someone elses nightmare tree ... if you inherited grandpa's house.. and its his tree ... well, i understand you have other decisions to make ...