[BataviaJim]

We got a crabapple tree 4 years ago. It's planted where we used to have two big trees -- a maple and a birch, I think. The nursery planted it; they had to augur through part of the roots of the old trees. (They were way too close together, the roots somewhat intertwined. Probably shouldn't have planted it there but that spot is where we needed a tree.)

The crabapple was fine the first year, but every year since it's developed a leaf disease -- fungus? mold? mildew? See photos -- there's a fuzz on the leaves & stems.

The leaves are flecked with it as soon as they emerge. Flower buds start to develop but die before they blossom.

In past years I've sprayed the tree weekly with Ortho Max Garden Disease, active ingredient 29% chlorothalonil. (Recommended by the nursery where I got the tree.) Eventually the fungus clears up but not until August. In the meantime the tree never blooms, doesn't leaf fully, and looks unhealthy, although it does grow a foot or so each year.

This year I'm going for broke, either kill the fungus or kill the tree. I've been spraying heavily every 5 days. So far no improvement.

My questions:

1. Is this tree a lost cause?
2. Should I treat it with some other product?
3. Is the disease due to natural vulnerability, or might it have "caught" it from the roots of the old trees?
4. If I give up and remove it, what's a good disease-resistant tree that won't grow over 25 feet?

BTW, we got another crabapple tree at the same time, different variety though, that's 30' away and thriving -- never a hint of disease.


Thanks for any advice.

 

[DoomsDave]

@BataviaJim, nice to meet you!

Hmm.

I'm gonna initially punt and cheat and steal the advice that one of our other regulars suggests: contact your county extension service and ask them. You pay taxes for it, might as well give them something useful to do that helps you.

I'm in California now, but lived in Cleveland suburbs for 20 years before then.

If, as I suspect they might, the folks at ag extension suggest a bunch of spraying all the time, I suggest you consider getting another tree and turning that one into firewood. Hate to say that, but I raise palms as a hobby, and some, like your crabapple are prone to endless rounds of problems with bugs, diseases or both. When that becomes apparent, out comes Mr. Chainsaw and the Leatherface hockey mask.

You might want to consider another kind of tree that's less trouble to maintain.

 

[BataviaJim]

@BataviaJim , nice to meet you!

Hmm.

I'm gonna initially punt and cheat and steal the advice that one of our other regulars suggests: contact your county extension service and ask them. You pay taxes for it, might as well give them something useful to do that helps you.

I'm in California now, but lived in Cleveland suburbs for 20 years before then.

If, as I suspect they might, the folks at ag extension suggest a bunch of spraying all the time, I suggest you consider getting another tree and turning that one into firewood. Hate to say that, but I raise palms as a hobby, and some, like your crabapple are prone to endless rounds of problems with bugs, diseases or both. When that becomes apparent, out comes Mr. Chainsaw and the Leatherface hockey mask.

You might want to consider another kind of tree that's less trouble to maintain.

The county extension is a good idea, don't know why I didn't think of it. I just checked and I can submit the photos via their website.

The Batavia in my BataviaJim is actually in Western NY, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester. I know there's a Batavia, IL too but I've never been there. There's one in Ohio too.

I've about had it with the tree. I'm giving it one last chance by heavy & frequent spraying, but if that doesn't fix it soon I'll reluctantly take it down. My biggest concern though is whether I can plant another species in the same spot, or if those preexisting roots will cause ongoing problems. Maybe the extension will know.

Thanks!

 

[de-nagorg]

@BataviaJim, nice to meet you!

Hmm.

I'm gonna initially punt and cheat and steal the advice that one of our other regulars suggests: contact your county extension service and ask them. You pay taxes for it, might as well give them something useful to do that helps you.

Hey: that's my line.

Leave it up to a sneaky attorney to steal it. :devil3::devil3:

Yes your Ag Extension office, is a better help than the nursery, they are in business to sell , and they can't sell, if your tree is healthy.:wink2:

The Extension office needs to know what kind of trees were there, because many trees emit poisons to prevent infiltration by "alien" species.


ED

 

[DoomsDave]

Ah, good to see that @de-nagorg is vigilant! Can't let usurpers get away with things . . . .

All jokes aside, @BataviaJim, I can understand the crab apple's appeal, especially if it's one of the recent cultivars with really pretty flowers.

For what it's worth, my experience has been that old roots in the soil from dead trees don't usually hurt anything, since they're not competing with your tree for water and nutrients. Sometimes they act as vectors for diseases and fungi, but I've found that not to be a big problem generally.

The huge problem with crabapples and other Prunus trees and shrubs is that they are beset by a lot of bugs and diseases. They include apples, pears, and many others. The rose family, of which they're a member also has a lot of troubles. But, they're so pretty, and often so good to eat that people take the trouble anyway.

Maybe take a picture of the overall location and we might be in a better position to make good suggestions for a replacement, which I think will be needed, alas.

I'm an attorney now, as De-nagorg noted, but I used to manage a garden shop, and while the task was to sell plants, we also sold guidance and good gardening experiences. Which I still try to do.

 

[BataviaJim]

Here's a photo of the yard. The problem tree is the one on the left.
The old trees were to the left of the problem tree, extending about 10 feet leftward and 10 feet forward & back.

As you can see, I'm limited on placement by the water & gas lines, as well as the property line and the other tree.
I could move the placement (if I get a new tree) forward or back, but then it would be farther out of alignment with the other crabapple than we'd like.

 

[Nik333]

Did you prune at all?


https://homeguides.sfgate.com/crabapple-fungi-33864.html

 

[BataviaJim]

Did you prune at all?

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/crabapple-fungi-33864.html

Yes, a few times every year.

It wanted to grow mostly to the right so I pruned that side to keep it more symmetric. You can see it's still a bit unbalanced to that side, but I don't want to shock it with over-pruning.

Also it tends to shoot a few long branches up high rather than grow evenly, so I pruned the ones that stuck up far above the rest.

 

[Nik333]

I meant pruning off the sick parts like the article says.:smile:

 

[BataviaJim]

I meant pruning off the sick parts like the article says.:smile:

Sorry. No, I haven't been able to prune the sick parts because every leaf and most of the stems have been affected. I'd be left with a bare trunk.

Of the diseases described in that link I think powdery mildew could be it but it's hard to be sure. I looked at some photos elsewhere and some looked similar but others not so much.