Oh my poor orchard !!!

[chickadoodles]

Hi chickadoodles.
Well we decided today to cut down our remaining cherry tree. The one is dead from what we believe is crown rot. The other also seems to have this affliction, however, that's not the whole story. These Bing and Royal Ann cherries bloom early and every year we lose the cherries in the bloom and bud. I just need something more hardy all around. So I am just going to have to forego some of the fruits I wanted. Just 2 apple trees, Hansen's Bush Cherries and maybe a pear tree. The rest will just have to buy at the market. Maybe some Honey Berries? We have 6 trees to cut down this year. a dead pine, mostly dead Black Walnut, 2 cherry trees ( Royal Ann and Bing) and 2 old apple trees ( Snow and Cider) .
Trees:
KinderKrisp Apple zones 3-7 Supreme Dwarf
Starkspur

Red Rome Beauty. zones 4-8 supreme dwarf
Our best baking apple. Is best pollinator for KinderKrisp .
Row of Hansen's Bush Cherries
Maybe some Honeyberries.
Sure would like a Pear tree if I could find a hardy one.
Maybe I can find a Southworth Pear tree in a dwarf.
(zone 4-7 ) that would be cool.
Best,
Karen

That is a shame that you lost so many old trees! Black Walnut's take forever to produce. But it is so nice that you found some great trees to plant.
I would like to get some bush cherry's. You might check with a nursery to see if there are some hardy pear trees for your area.
You can look on eburgess.com they have a variety of pear trees and one has 5 different pears on it that is a dwarf but I don't know how cold hardy it is.

 

[Arielle]

Gee Karen, that is a lot of heartache to cut down all those dead trees. This winter was very hard on bushes and trees here -- I"m seeing a lont of dead growth on the hardy rhodies and some that are completely dead. NEver seen that before EVER.

I'm sure your new selections will do well as you have put a lot of thought into selecting the right ones.


I started to get interested in grafting last year. so I"m leanring more this year. ANd with that knowledge I would ike to take some cuttings from the pear and apple trees that are thriving at my mothers in Maine. And hope they will survive here just as well. Coastal climate there, and inland here might be enough to throw off the survivability, but worth trying I think.

You will feel better when the new ones are in the ground and leaves are sprouting!!

 

[3riverschick]

That is a shame that you lost so many old trees! Black Walnut's take forever to produce. But it is so nice that you found some great trees to plant.
I would like to get some bush cherry's. You might check with a nursery to see if there are some hardy pear trees for your area.
You can look on eburgess.com they have a variety of pear trees and one has 5 different pears on it that is a dwarf but I don't know how cold hardy it is.

Thanks chickadoodles and Arielle for the nice warm words. Yeah, I will miss those trees. They have been on the lot a long time.
Yet, I know the new plantings will be able to survivie future severe weather so that's a comfort. I didn't know
about burgess, thanks!, will check them out.
Best,
Karen

 

[heartsizedfarm]

That scar in the bark you describe, just wondering, was it south facing? It could be winter scald, which I think is when the cold temps combined with hot sun split the bark.

Also, how close were the black walnuts to your orchard? They tend to kill the competition.

 

[chickadoodles]

Thanks chickadoodles and Arielle for the nice warm words. Yeah, I will miss those trees. They have been on the lot a long time.
Yet, I know the new plantings will be able to survivie future severe weather so that's a comfort. I didn't know
about burgess, thanks!, will check them out.
Best,
Karen

I have shopped with them for about 5 years and have been very happy with their stuff and it is guaranteed for a year.

You just have to soak the bare root.

 

[3riverschick]

That scar in the bark you describe, just wondering, was it south facing? It could be winter scald, which I think is when the cold temps combined with hot sun split the bark.

Also, how close were the black walnuts to your orchard? They tend to kill the competition.

hum, that scald could be it. Yes, the scars on both cherry trees are south facing. How do I prevent that in new trees?
The Black Walnut is a boundary tree on the back lot line. It is interspersed with the pines. Far from my other trees.
Thanks,
Karen