Single wild fruit trees in the woods

[TreeDaddy]

I would give grafting a shot. I would also try planting a crab and another pear nearby to see if that would pollinate them. I think I had the same thing happening on my land with wild apples. I had no fruit and didn't even know I had wild apples trees. I had my land 20 years, 10 years ago I started planting some dolgo and then every year since a few more apples,pear, and crabs. I'm not sure what happened I think it was a combination of sunlight from tsi, and possibly the crabs and apples now pollinating the wild trees, but the wild apple/ crabs are popping up all over and they are really producing the fruit. Doing way better than my grafted trees.

I have flagged the callery pears on my place

plan to graft with some Keiffer scions from my orchard

Little to lose in terms of time or effort

who knows? Might even work1

bill

 

[Stubborn1VT]

I went out yesterday and cut a couple trees to get more light to one of the apple trees in the woods. Sorry, no pics. I will probably take down 1 or 2 more later. Also considering prepping a spot to plant a second tree in that location.

I also got to thinking about some wild trees that I transplanted from the family farm. I have some rootstock! As much as I would like to place an order from Blue Hill, I think the fiscally responsible approach would be to buy/barter scion wood. I'm interested in the crabs and apple crabs I have read about. My biggest hurdle is CAR, but it seems like there are many resistant options. My property is quite narrow, so removing red cedar entirely isn't in the cards.

The second wild apple is an old tree, probably 12-14" in diameter. It has grown tall and spindly. The shape reminds me of a pear tree Any suggestions on how aggressive to prune it?

Right now I have 2 productive wild apples. My goal is get that up to 10 in the next 5 years or so. I'm looking forward to planting, grafting and pruning this spring!

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^ ^ ^ ^
If that old wild apple tree was surrounded by other tall trees, it grew high to get sunlight. I can share a bit of info about a wild, woods-grown apple tree in the Pa. mountains. It looked like your description of your tree. Some guy (not me) discovered it, cut down some trees around it, and topped it. He also seemed to prune out the water sprouts & dead limbs - based on what I saw. I knew of that tree for some years - it wasn't making any blossoms or fruit. Once the guy released that tree to sunlight and pruned it - it started making blossoms and some apples. That tree was as neglected as any you'll find due to its remote location. I suspect it was the result of a hunter's snack apple in the past.

 

[Stubborn1VT]

^ ^ ^ ^
If that old wild apple tree was surrounded by other tall trees, it grew high to get sunlight. I can share a bit of info about a wild, woods-grown apple tree in the Pa. mountains. It looked like your description of your tree. Some guy (not me) discovered it, cut down some trees around it, and topped it. He also seemed to prune out the water sprouts & dead limbs - based on what I saw. I knew of that tree for some years - it wasn't making any blossoms or fruit. Once the guy released that tree to sunlight and pruned it - it started making blossoms and some apples. That tree was as neglected as any you'll find due to its remote location. I suspect it was the result of a hunter's snack apple in the past.

I suspect some of these old trees are so old that they were once in pastures that are now forest.

I plan on taking a similar approach. Unfortunately, the property line to the south is only 20 yards away, so I can't get as aggressive as I would like when releasing it. I was undecided on topping it, but I suppose it will either kill it or cure it. If it responds well at all, I may plant a crab apple nearby.

 

[rocksnstumps]

^ ^ ^ ^
If that old wild apple tree was surrounded by other tall trees, it grew high to get sunlight. I can share a bit of info about a wild, woods-grown apple tree in the Pa. mountains. It looked like your description of your tree. Some guy (not me) discovered it, cut down some trees around it, and topped it. He also seemed to prune out the water sprouts & dead limbs - based on what I saw. I knew of that tree for some years - it wasn't making any blossoms or fruit. Once the guy released that tree to sunlight and pruned it - it started making blossoms and some apples. That tree was as neglected as any you'll find due to its remote location. I suspect it was the result of a hunter's snack apple in the past.

Have a wild tree similar and had to top it cause when the surrounding trees got logged, the tree I marked to save bent over like the St Louis Arch. All those nearby trees made it 35 ft tall and spindly. Used a pole saw to reach up and cut at the top of the arch. Yrs later it recovered somewhat decently and still above the young growth resprouts.