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Post by Sandbur on Jun 6, 2023 13:13:33 GMT -6
  2014 and 2019 plantings from SLN that have been poor doers. I nursed them along and with no growth at any height I investigated. Both had aluminum wire screen around them. The 2014 had some mulch against the screen. This damage occurs right at ground level and then upwards to about 18 inches at the maximum. I have had this problem on about 60% of Anty rootstock. if it were sunscauld on my property, it wouldn’t be on all sides of the tree and would be this low to the ground. Did I get mulch too close to the tree? Winter damage at the nursery? A few Anty rootstock have done well. Many more have not. I much prefer dolgo rootstock or other crab apple rootstock. I welcome discussion but probably won’t plant any more Anty rootstock. I really shouldn’t be planting any more apple trees. |
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Post by benmnwi on Jun 6, 2023 14:14:12 GMT -6
The top larger tree sure looks like rabbit, vole or buck rub damage to me, but the bottom tree looks like SW injury since the bark is cracking and seems to be separating from the inner wood.
I had to cut down a nice apple tree this spring that was completely girdled by a vole.
I started planting Antonovka rootstock trees from SLN in 2008 at my Rusk County place. At that time I was pruning for a central leader with few branches, so there were no lower branches and I didn't know about SW injury at the time. A very high % of my trees had SW injury, with many of them dying. When I started painting the trunks, the issue was pretty much eliminated.
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Post by smsmith on Jun 6, 2023 14:28:35 GMT -6
The major issues I've had here with rootstocks are B118s tending to lean and Ranetka tending to sucker.
Any rootstock I use (Antonovka, B118, Ranetka, Dolgo, M111) besides wild crab will get sunscald if they aren't painted. It's possible that the wild crabs aren't getting it because most of those that I have are in/near more wooded settings. Wild crab and Prairiefire ornamental crab seedlings are the only fruit trees I have that the bunnies and voles will leave untouched when not protected.
I don't have a long enough time period with the wild crabs to find out what kind of tree size they'll produce at full maturity.
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Post by Sandbur on Jun 6, 2023 15:16:25 GMT -6
The top larger tree sure looks like rabbit, vole or buck rub damage to me, but the bottom tree looks like SW injury since the bark is cracking and seems to be separating from the inner wood. I had to cut down a nice apple tree this spring that was completely girdled by a vole. I started planting Antonovka rootstock trees from SLN in 2008 at my Rusk County place. At that time I was pruning for a central leader with few branches, so there were no lower branches and I didn't know about SW injury at the time. A very high % of my trees had SW injury, with many of them dying. When I started painting the trunks, the issue was pretty much eliminated. it is not buck rub as it begins at ground level and is enclosed by screen. Perhaps a vole got in when I used the screened tube contraptions I have. I sometimes use them for the first two years. Both of these cuts were at or below ground level. |
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