Keren R, Look at the recent post in the link. Tony Here is a link that might be useful: Apple spraying schedule

Thanks for the further advice. The Japanese beetles have been wreaking havoc in our area this year, so I wouldn't doubt that they got at the tree. This particular tree was a little bit yellow following transplant while the others stayed a nice dark green. It looks like the insects are much more damaging to a plant in a weakened state. From what I've read soapy water isn't effective against the beetles but apparently cedar oil can be used as a natural deterrent. I will try it out and hopefully the plant will come back strong next spring.

Greetings: I see holes in some of the leaves from something that chewed. I also see silvery areas on some of the leaves (leaf miner?). Leaf miners will chew out 2 layers of the leaf (5 layers in a leaf if I recall correctly) which leave areas that look silvery like that. Tough to kill once inside the leaf. Whatever is chewing the large holes in the leaf should be easy to control if spraying with an insecticide. Sorry I am no help on organic controls.

I think it looks like deer too. Since they are small and non-bearing try spraying them the with deer repellent like Bobbex Deer Repellent or whatever brand is sold in your area (usually has garlic and rotten eggs in the mix so it will smell bad). Or try hanging the stinky bars of soap in the tree. They provide some relieve. Is the fence too close and just around the tree? If so try using a wider circle of fencing to keep the 4 legged thieves away. I can relate as they ate down apples I personally grafted 2 years in a row! Stinky deer repellent proved some relief for a few weeks. Lost two seasons worth of growth. After 6 years they are finally bearing some fruit. The deer still mow some of my lower branches.