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My apple tree has fallen down!

  • 29-07-2025 05:35PM
    #1
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,409 ✭✭✭✭


    image.png image.png

    As title, my Bramley apple tree has fallen over. It has loads of fruit which usually would have dropped by now but evidently its a bit slow, and the weight and the dry ground (the ground there is very light and dry) has resulted in the collapse. The hole is a big space that is very dry. It isn't showing any signs of wilting, it can only have fallen in the last maybe 48 hours. Its about 25 years old.

    So what to do. My thinking is to fill in the hole with soil and compost etc and lots of water. A good part of the trunk is completely on the ground, then you can see in the bottom pic it lifts a bit. It was fairly lopsided anyway, but too established to do anything about it.

    The branch in the centre, top pic, at about 45 degrees was vertical. If I cut off most of the branches that are lying on the ground and left any more-or-less now vertical branches would that be a good idea? Should I leave it till the autumn to cut it back? Any thoughts?



Comments

  • #2
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,065 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    Anything to be said for getting a small digger in and carefully standing it up again, securing and then trimming and reducing weight in the autumn?
    I think it was Clarkson's Farm that this was done on a far bigger tree and it worked. Needs to be done quickly I think with no more damage to the root system as possible.



  • #3
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,409 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I considered that briefly, but decided against it. Its pretty big and I doubt I could make it stay upright long enough to establish itself. I simply would not have the strength to put in the kind of supports needed and finding someone to do it isn't likely.

    We have put lots of water into the hole and have taken off the branches that are low to the ground. It had a very significant lean before it fell, so there are a number of branches that have already sent up more or less vertical side shoots. I will fill up the hole with compost and soil and see how it goes.



  • #4
    standardg60
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,101 ✭✭✭standardg60


    Just use soil rather than compost to cover over the roots. It should be fine and will adjust to it's new position.



  • #5
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,409 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    image.png

    We cut off about half a dozen big branches that were lying on the ground and took all the apples off. Some are very small but most are edible, just had some stewed and they were very nice. I'd say this is about half of what is on the tree, no wonder it fell down!



  • #6
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,188 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    How big are the branches? Apple wood is a weird that woodturners like. If there are any in your area they might be able to make you some trinkets in exchange for the wood.



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  • #7
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123857870#Comment_123857870

    It's not dead just yet. 😁

    (I saw your previous posting, it's very nicely made)



  • #8
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,188 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    We cut off about half a dozen big branches

    They're dead though!



  • #9
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,188 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Odd, my edit to my post is not showing for me at the moment?



  • #10
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,409 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I lost track of that discussion a bit! The branches that are being taken off would not really be big enough to do much with I think. I've been so busy with other jobs I haven't finished sorting it yet, but there are several growing in a 'row' straight up that would make about 4 'trees' and be easy to access.



  • #11
    amandstu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,463 ✭✭✭amandstu


    I have loads(well,about 5) of eaters and cookers that have gone on their side in the various storms.

    I leave them until the fruit has fallen off and then cut away as many branches as I can to take the weight off the root system .

    Once I cut a wrong branch that was actually supporting the tree in its new position and the tree subsided a bit further (which may have caused new damage to the remaining roots.

    I think packing the hole with good soil does no harm but unless you can actually see fibrous roots down there it may more cosmetic than useful.

    Probably also worth checking the roots/trunk to see if they are badly rotten.

    Post edited by amandstu on


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  • #12
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,409 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    No rot in it at all. The tree was leaning to one side anyway, and had been for many years I think, the soil is about 8 to 12 inches of good topsoil, then sandy shale so it was shallow rooted. If I had stirred myself I could have put some scaffolding under it but never got round to it. Its looking absolutely fine though, if a little horizontal!



  • #13
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,188 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123857946#Comment_123857946

    argh, i just noticed i accidentally edited the post about apples in the other thread by accident with the photo - i was scratching my head about that!

    An example - a paper plant pot maker I made for a neighbour. An old apple tree in their garden died and I got a load of wood from them.

    1000024187.jpg


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