Hi Folks,
I purchased a granny smith apple tree from treesofantiquity.com in Paso Robles, CA earlier this year. I put it in the ground and it seemed to leaf out fine earlier this spring. Lately I have been noticing the leaves on this tree folding and closing in on themselves. Normally I associate that with a lack of water. But I have been watering this tree regularly. So I am wondering if this is normal behavior for a Granny Smith apple tree. My experience with this tree is limited but I do also have Anna, Tropic Sweet, Dorsett Golden, Fuji, and Pink Lady among other type of apple trees in my orchard. None of them behave in this way. Please take a look at the pictures below and tell me what you think might be going on.
Thanks.
Hi John,
After I created this post and uploaded the pictures I went searching online for images of granny smith apple trees and their leaves. I did find this youtube video which appears to be from a desert region. Possibly California or maybe Arizona, or Texas. Anyway the leaves on his granny smith apple tree appear the same as mine. I am guessing maybe this is how the tree responds in extreme heat or maybe it is a sub-variety of granny smith that has a gene which causes the leaves to fold in on themselves. I water the tree every few days but I do have to admit that my backyard orchard has a mixture of sand and clay in it. It is a really dreadful soil and its the reason I think my trees aren't more vigorous. Still the root stock on this tree is M-111 which is supposedly tolerant of wet or dry soils. I have other trees like braeburn on M-111 rootstock that came from Dave Wilson nurseries a couple of years ago. That tree and rootstock has done really well in my yard and it's the reason I ordered a bunch of different apple trees from Trees Of Antiquity. They use M-111 for everything. I will monitor the tree and cut back some on the watering just to be on the safe side.
Thanks,
Juan
My feeling is that you may have discovered the reason; I also think it’s a young trees response to hot conditions. The leaves remind me of the terminal leaves on a fully exposed apple tree, whereas the interior, or shaded leaves are open and lush in comparison. I’d water it as you have your other apple trees, and allow it’s structure to mature and eventually begin shading itself. The leaves look perfect otherwise, no apparent ‘spots or webbing.’
Fencing my individual trees from deer allowed me to actually provide shade by placing a small tarp on the southernmost ‘heat of the day’ side of a Braeburn apple once recovering from a total deer shearing (deer had stuck their heads up under the fencing). It’s recovering leaves looked similar to those of your Granny S. If/ when the most intense heat of summer arrives, some temporary shading could ease their stress some.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
1 Guest(s)