Old apple tree problem

Zigs, I have nightmares about rampant willows.lol

 

Hi, thank you for your reply. The base of the tree is quite thick and splits into 2. Both of these trunks in a V shape. Woodpecker on it this morning
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I'd take a chance and cut that back to where the lowest live growth is and see if it gives it another lease of life.

Then i'd chop up the Applewood and use it to smoke me fish

 

Nice tree; if it were mine I would like to save it too. I still think cut off one of the trunks and cut back the other and hopefully it will continue for another 10 years or more; do this in winter. Meanwhile plant another apple tree.

 

Have to disgree with the first bit, Dai. I had to do a colossal amount of cuttings of things I couldn't bring with me, and by far the most successful methods were rooting in water and hardwood cuttings straight into fairly sandy soil. Even now, cuttings done into their own carefully prepared pots die off, while bits stuck into a large pot containing something else take root very easily as do semi-ripe and ripe cuttings in a shady bit of ground. It's not easy getting the watering just right for cuttings in small pots!

 

noisette if you read the first bit I said to take at LEAST 10 cuttings. Also, you don`t need carefully prepared pots, you just njeed pots of SPENT compost. The whole idea of taking cuttings is to get them to set roots. You do that by putting them in a nutrient free medium.

 

I do it by putting them in water or someone else's pot, or a spare bit of shady border
Each to their own...whatever works best for 'one'

 

Best way to preserve the variety if that is what you want, is to get a nursery to graft it onto a rootstock for you next spring.
Or maybe try budding it yourself very soon now, if you can get a rootstock.

 

A sad update to this post.
The sad day has come when the poor old tree has had to be chopped. The tree surgeon felt the tree very unsafe and moving alarmingly. It is still beautiful to me with its bark and knobly bits. I plan to plant a scrambling plant such as a honeysuckle. Any other wildlife ideas would be appreciated.

 

It will probably start sprouting all over next spring, hopefully.

It looks like great wildlife habitat; is that ivy growing up it? I agree that a clematis would be nice growing up and around it.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it did either!

Did you take any cuttings on the off chance of them rooting?

 

Thank you for your reply's. I am afraid I didn't take any cuttings, I was in a bit of a state! There is ivy growing up it. Perhaps a honeysuckle and clematis. I will definitely plant another tree.
This forum is so lovely by the way x