While driving along country roads in the autumn, watching the falling leaves – I suddenly encountered an old, abandoned, neglected apple orchard. What would it take to bring this orchard back to life? What unknown varieties of apples might be discovered?
I can wonder no more. I recently inherited an old orchard of my own, six gnarled, twisted, and partially dead apple trees standing sentinel above the meadow on our newly purchased property. My Dad was wholly unconvinced of their structural integrity, and masons, roofers, deliverymen, drivers, all seemed to notice their sad state of disrepair. Throughout the discourse of these observers, the question was begged: could this orchard live again? The answer, resoundingly, is yes! I recognize the pitfalls, the effort, the patience it takes -- like most things worth doing. But I also recognize that Nature is indeed a great and indomitable healer.
The first step seemed clear: observe the trees in their current state. What branches need to be removed? Is there damage to any bud tips, bark, etc. that could indicate the presence of pests? Do I just climb up them with a hacksaw and good intentions? Thankfully, before I dove head first into this adventure, I took any and every opportunity to ask qualified people. The director of Landis Arboretum, Fred Breglia, does an incredible number of workshops on every type of pruning scenario you can think of (and presumably a few none of us imagined). From Fred I got a crash course on the tools, equipment, and theory behind pruning old apple trees.
The first task in rejuvenating old apple trees is to remove any dead branches. You should also remove ones that are growing at unnatural angles or crowding out branches that are setting the most fruit. Do this to promote proper airflow (reducing pests) and proper sunlight exposure (enhancing fruit set quality, color and flavor). The next place to look is down! Scrape back a few inches of soil (up to 6” depending on soil quality/root prevalence). Is there evidence of beneficial microorganisms (mycelium, predatory insects)? Is there evidence of harmful microorganisms (Japanese beetle grubs, weevils, aphids)? You would be amazed what a new top dressing of soil and some aeration can do! If you dig back some and are mystified, send a soil sample to your nearest Cornell Cooperative Extension office. They’ll be happy to let you know what’s really going on down there! Speaking of down there, there’s one other key component to making sure your old apple trees are getting a new lease on life. You’ve got to check the roots! If you can find any encircling or ensnaring roots, remove them with a sterilized pruner.
Be patient. It’s best to avoid removing more that 25% of the tree’s wood at any one time. Give yourself at least two years to bring the old trees back. And be realistic: while apple trees can live to a hundred years or more, their fruiting peaks at about 25 years. Consider planting new trees for the next generation.
That old orchard on my property was planted on land worked by the settlers who came here with Sir William Johnson in the 18th Century. Finding and rejuvenating an old orchard is truly a joy -- and a labor of love that reaches both back to the past and forward to the future.