In a large open area about 75 yards from my house I planted 3 dwarf trees, one sour cherry, one Gala apple and one golden delicious apple. I plantd them early spring 2001. They are doing great but this fall something skinned off all the leaves off the Gala apple except the ones on the very ends of the branches. Does this sound like Deer and if so why only the Gala (it is about 10 feet farther from the house than the other apple)and why did the culprit leave the leaves at the end of the branches? Also, need recommendations on how to prune and spray for bugs. -Debbie in Silex, Missouri

-- Debbie Trimble (risingwind@socket.net), October 30, 2001

Answers

if it left the leaves at the end of branches,, not a deer,, sounds like somthing is climbing up there,, and eating them,,lots of things eat leaves, are you sure they arent just falling off for fall? Is any bark missing? is it eating the ends of the branch also?

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 31, 2001.

Try www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ or www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/ That is Purdue Universities Horticulture pages with a lot of answers.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), October 31, 2001.

Last year it didn't happen and it's not just autumn leaf fall because whatever ate the leaves left the big middle vein of each leaf. Also, the other apple tree, the Golden delicious, still has all of its leaves although they are dying off. The youngest leaves at the end of each branch are untouched. It started happening right before the leaves started turning, and it was over fast. Would grasshoppers do this, and if so, why only that one tree? -Debbie

-- Debbie Trimble (risingwind@socket.net), October 31, 2001.

are there stil grashoppers around? you stil didnt say where you are.. are there leaves on the ground? or are they ALL gone? what aboout the buds? tips ?

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 31, 2001.

This year, in several cycles, grasshoppers and walking sticks have completely defoliated mature trees in parts of Texas--some, by the acre. Left leaf veins, etc., as you described. Many trees won't survive! Would imagine it's happening wherever there are mild winters and just enough rain to sustain vegetation for the little pests. Hope for a persistent freeze to get some of them (the grasshoppers hibernate just below the surface of the soil) this winter. Never hope to kill them all off (pesticides, etc.)--we need them for balance!

-- Irish (zumende@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

See your county extension agent for pruning and spraying. Then, ignore him if he goes for broad spectrum and get in touch with organic advocates IN YOUR AREA of the state. Look up other folks and ask for tried and true advice on pruning for your variety of trees.

-- Irish (zumende@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

I'm outside of Silex, Missouri. The bark is ok, buds ok branch ends ok and a nice tuft of young leaves were untouched at the ends of each branch. Whatever it is doesn't like young leaves. Come to think of it I did see one grasshopper on it a while back. I didn't connect it, because I thought they weren't so picky to leave the Golden Delicious alone and decimate the Gala., plus reject the young leaves. There are quite a bit of big ugly grasshoppers around this year..... No leaves on ground, none. Some one should invent a tree wrap that repels hungry bugs it indeed it was grasshoppers. Thanks everybody! Debbie

-- Debbie Trimble (risingwind@socket.net), October 31, 2001.

I'm along ways from Texas, but have had armyworms attack just one apple tree and leave the others alone. This happened when it was hot and dry twds the end of August last year.

-- fred (fred@mddc.com), November 02, 2001.

had this same thing happen to only one of my 10 newly set-out apple trees here in NH. It was August, I went over to inspect the tree - and found about 30 caterpillars munching away. Squashed all that I could find and sprayed all of my trees. (wish I had sprayed them sooner!) This tree went into the fall with only the leaves at the tips of the branches. Hope it comes out of it in the spring.

-thomas in NH

-- thomasNH (noemailaddy@nowhere.com), November 04, 2001.