I have 2 apple trees of which the first is about 35 - 40 years old and the other about 25. Both these trees produce bumper crops of delicious apples every year. All of a sudden this year I saw a branch that was starting to have its leaves turn yellow -- then all the leaves fell off. There are apples on the branch but as you can imagine, not they are not growing any more. So anyways, a branch near the first starts losing leaves -- same thing. Then all of a sudden the 2nd tree, all the leaves curl up and die on a branch and it is spreading!
Does anyone have any idea of what to do? I am thinking it is Blyte or something. I see a black patch (no oozing) on one of the branches on the first tree -- so we cut it off, then I noticed a patch on another branch -- this is something that is definitely spreading - so we cut it off. Then I noticed yesterday that the bark at the bottom of the tree is peeling off -- so I peeled it back - ear wigs everywhere. Not sure if they ar ethe cause or just living there.
Any ideas, comments welcome -- What should I do???