Apricot Tree Problem

Hello Everyone,

I have a problem with a new apricot tree. I planted it in late January from a pot along with several other kinds of fruit tree and it is the only one that has not leafed out properly.

The older branches (4 branches pruned into an open vase) have not leafed out at all, but new branches and leaves are coming from a bit lower on the trunk (above the graft). I snipped the end off one of the older branches and it is light brown and woody all the way through.

My thinking is that I should let it get on with it during the current growing season and prune back the older branches in winter at the usual time if they never leaf out. Any tips would be greatly appreciated though.

- Danny

 

Here are some pics...

 

Suspect it may have received a frosting before you received it. It seems to be trying so proceed as you suggest. I would remove an area of competing grass( say 500mm radius) and mulch.

 

OK. Will do. I grew a spring meadow this year to help the insects, but it is due to be mown down starting next week. There's already a 150mm radius circular edging at the base of each tree with mulch, but I'll expand this after I mow down the grass. We had a brutal two week winter freeze in December, so it may well have suffered during this period before it reached me.

 

I only have a seed raised Apricot but it was totally unfazed by the freeze in December and has leafed out normally.
I'd suggest that the dieback is due to unripened wood last year.
I'd just cut it back, not keen on the colour of the new foliage which suggests it's not happy, not sure why though.

 

Looking again it appears to have had it's main stem cut back, I wonder if that was done a bit late last year which has caused the plant to make new growth late in the year which has been soft going into winter.
I'd be inclined to have a chat with where you bought it from.

 

I'll give contacting the supplier a go; it was from a fairly low cost pack of 3 trees, so I'm not that hopeful I'll get a detailed answer.

It has been very dry here for maybe 3 or 4 weeks now, so I've started watering weekly beginning this week. My soil is a medium brown, around pH 6.5 but not very nutrient rich, so I have fed around the base of the tree with slow release fertiliser and I plan to repeat monthly going forward.

One of two pawpaw trees I planted at the same time also has quite yellow leaves (a Susquehanna type), yet the Sunflower variety pawpaw right next door is doing great. I *think* that the Susquehanna tree is starting to come around now.

 

Agree, its extremely pale, nitrogen deficiency ? Would expect it to be as RAL6002
www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ral6002

 

I'm going to make sure it gets some more nitrogen this evening.

 

@pete
How old is your seedling, has it flowered yet ?

 

I think the poor colour is down to the roots not happy, it could be self correcting once the roots move out into the soil.

The seedling is about six years old and had 3 flowers last year and quite a lot this year, but none of them set.

 

I have similar, but which is now 7 years since sown; but has been moved into and out of pots.Not a bud ; its got one more year...

 

@Danny Hughes would you mind please telling me where you got your pawpaws from? I have a couple of small seedlings thanks to @pete , but I could do with some named ones that are a bit more mature!