Apple tree down--UPDATE!

[Russ Emmons]

Late June one of those bad storms, we lost our 25' tall pride of property, beautiful huge "Michigan Delicious" apple tree. We were heart broken It split, ripped right over, fell on the garden smashed most of the Pumpkin, & Squash plants. It is loaded with apples after having none on any of our trees last year. For now, leaving it alone hoping this years apples will mature so we may have them as the tree still seems alive & green. Don't believe it will survive thru the winter tho like this. Ron or anyone--any ideas? I'm sure a tree surgeons services would be hundreds of $
Hate to just cut it up for firewood but also hate to lose it. Wondering if we can pull it back up with a tractor, repair it, stake it up with guy wires

Russ Emmons

[Danaduck]

Same thing happened to one of my prizes a few years ago.

You still have a healthy root system and it looks like enough to support most of the apples it has. You may consider cutting off some of it now to ensure the existing roots feed what is left.

After the fall when the trees go dormant then prune back. It may be to a stump. Then next spring some risers may come out. Let them grow for two seasons and then pick two or three that are healthiest and look like they will branch. Then two years later pick the best or the best two. There may in the end be only one.

I am in year three where I will pick two this fall. Gonna be hard because none of mine show any tendency to want to branch..

Edit top add. If the tree was originally a grafted tree to some other root stock you may find you get a pear tree or an apple tree that will not be true to the current fruit.

[Duane Wilcox]

Had a similar tree fall at our place near Alpena about 18 years ago. Left it as it was. It still produces a nice crop of apples.


Duane

[Russ Emmons]

Update on this from last year Many of you probably remember this (?)
I'm delighted to report this tree is alive & well it made it through this extreme winter, all leafed out now! Wondering if it will blossom? It did produce MANY nice apples even on its side!

What to do now? Many of the branches broke off, some died and ones on the ground got eaten badly by rabbits, deer etc. Some we pruned off. We just couldn't deal with the extreme winter any more so decided to leave it til spring and let fate take its course. Now it is garden time and this tree is covering 1/4 to 1/3 of the garden space. Best bet would be for my sons tractor & try to pull it upright and stake it up somehow.

Russ Emmons

[SandyLee]

I would just take out the "dead stuff" and if you can deal with it laying side-ways...let 'er be. Won't look too purdy... but if you try to upright it, you may, especially this time of year, yank out some of the critical "little roots" the tree has down there.

If you need to upright it.... do it in the Fall, when it doesn't need all the ground juice it's depending on right now to survive.