Hello, I have a drawf gala apple tree. I bought it with a. Fuji tree back in the spring of 2022. This year I finally an apple! But after awhile it stopped growing and then the leaves started turning brown and crunchy. So i decided to prune it off to where I see buds because I think I may have a disease? I also did the scratch test to see if I see green and I did not see any so is it even alive? I've attached some pictures of my gala tree below. Btw my Fuji tree still has most of its leaves but didn't produce any apples yet ( I know it's typically 3-5 years before you get any so I'm not worried). I'm located in northern NJ and we've had a pretty wet and cool summer.

I think you've got a serious infection of some sort. And unfortunately your tree may be dead. If you are willing to spend a lot of time on the tree I would wait until next spring to dig it up in case it comes back.

If you're not willing to spend a lot of time with it, I would just replace it. If that's what you want to do, dig it up now and don't plant a new tree in that spot for a few years.

Yeah I kinda figured it was a disease. I looked up apple tree diseases and I think it's Fire Blight. It's definitely really bad because the whole tree feels loose. I'm probably gonna dig it up soon and then next spring get a different type of apple tree, but like you said plant it in a different spot.

I experience so many fruit tree issues that I've given up on some types and search for trees that aren't susceptible.

While there are pear tree varieties that are resistant to fire blight, this is not the same as immune.

And... there's also the cedar / apple rust virus that is impossible to avoid if both are in the area.

Pears seem unaffected.

I grow pawpaw and persimmon trees without difficulty...
Mulberry trees and walnut trees thrive at my house...

But apples? loquat? plum? nope... can't grow.

Yeah, this was year 2 for my apple trees and I thought they did good. Obviously not because the gala one got a disease. Gonna plant a new variety of apple next spring

I am so sorry your apple tree is ill. This is why some tree farms offer 2-year warranties on their stock. I've never had to claim a loss, but it's nice to have purchase protection with trees so pricey these days. Good luck moving forward, prayers to your surviving apple tree.