My land has lots of really old, decrepit apple trees in all kinds of condition, some that fruit, some not. I want to plant some new dwarf trees and want to know how big a threat the old ones are in terms of disease and pests. If so, how much distance around the new orchard would have to be cleaned up?

Thanks.

-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), March 15, 2002

Answers

Not sure about old trees, but ceder trees within a mile can transmit ceder blight.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 15, 2002.

Old apple trees will not pose a problem if the new trees are healthy. pests are only going to go for the stressed or sick trees - regardless of age. If your young trees are well looked after, and the soil is good, you shouldn't have a problem.

Check out what kinds of old trees you have too, you may have a heritage variety that has nearly gone extinct. There are some really good old fasioned varieties that just dont keep on the store shelf.

If you find a really neat old variety try grafting onto younger trees and see what happens.

-- Chenoa (ganter@primus.ca), March 15, 2002.

Rod, you might check with your County Extension Agent about this. Apple growers here in Oregon cut down old trees, or spray, prune and care for them carefully so they don't transmit problems. One of our neighbors specializes in "Desert Apples" and when speaking with him I ask what his biggest problems were in keeping his orchard healthy. He said "all those old, uncared for trees all around." Just a thought to pass on. Good luck and good eating! :) LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 15, 2002.

Thanks for the answers, I think a call to the extension service would be a good idea.

-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), March 17, 2002.