We planted a Stayman Winesap apple tree about five years ago. It thrived
and last year had a fair number of apples on it. Since we live in the
woods, it takes some managing to find a sunny spot. We have cut down some
of the trees (breaks my heart) and need to take down a few more in order to
have our gardens. But, I am straying from my sad story.............
This spring our trees got their usual quota of leaves but not the Stayman
Winesap tree. We were looking at it the other day and I noticed the wrap we
had placed around the trunk to keep the mice, etc. from chewing on the bark.
On a whim I unwrapped the tree and discovered the tree had been girdled with
some kind of ants underneath the wrap. You can't win!!
Sad, in the Mid-Hudson Valley,
ann
gypsy@francomm.com
Ouch. Was it grafted or own root stock?
The apple tree we had (and cut down) was grafted. We spent the next
several years trying to stop all the suckering volunteers...very nice of
them to try, but we really couldn't deal with whatever apples would rise
from that vigorous stock.
Maybe, if your rootwood is still alive and decides to try suckering
survival skills, you can get some interesting scion wood and graft
something good onto at least one of those suckers. :)
Barb in Southern Indiana Zone 5/6 dorsett@blueriver.net
A root is a flower that disdains fame.
