Why do the leaves on an apple tree turn yellow? Let’s look at the reasons and what to do

Description of the causes and their solutions

In order not to wonder why the leaves of an apple tree turn yellow, it is important to observe:

Choosing the right landing site.
Dosed fertilizing and watering.
Prevention from diseases and pests.
Autumn work to protect the tree from winter damage.

Important! The leaves on the apple tree turn yellow in different ways . For example, from bottom to top or top to bottom, the shade changes, the color change occurs along with curling or falling.

Based on the nuances, you can determine the reason why the leaves on the apple tree turn yellow.

in spring

If yellow leaves appear on an apple tree in spring, the cause is scab or brown spot. Young leaves immediately turn yellow and become covered with spots.

Why do the leaves turn yellow?

A change in foliage color that begins in the lower tiers of the tree is an indicator of an imbalance in soil nutrition. So why do apple tree leaves turn yellow in summer? The reason may be a lack of nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium:

Lack of nitrogen. The leaves become light green, then gradually turn yellow, young shoots grow weakly.
Lack of potassium. A red rim appears on the border and dries up. When potassium is deficient, trees cannot effectively absorb nitrogen from the soil, so symptoms of the problem often appear in tandem.
Phosphorus deficiency. The plate becomes bronze or purple in color, then the leaves turn black and dry out.
Magnesium deficiency occurs more often on sandy soil and sandy loam, especially in the event of prolonged rains. Yellow, red, and then brown spots appear on the leaves (spotting as a result of scab development looks different), fruits and leaves drop off.

Causes and what to do when leaves turn yellow.
Elimination of the above problems is achieved through timely addition of nutrients to the soil and proper care.

If the yellowing of the leaves began from the top of the apple tree , then you need to pay attention to excess soil moisture formed as a result of excessive watering coupled with poor drainage or close groundwater.

Attention! Stagnant waterlogging leads to rotting of the roots, as toxic products of anaerobic decomposition accumulate in the thickness of the damp soil.

It is better not to allow such a situation, since it is quite difficult to correct it.

It is necessary to organize:

Soil drainage.
Correct choice of site level for planting or artificially increasing the level.
Landing on shafts.

Close groundwater causes waterlogging of the soil and death of apple trees.

Problems with flowering and fruit set in apple trees

A common problem is the lack of flowering of a fruit tree, which subsequently does not bear fruit. Why does this happen and how to treat it? It should be said that there may be several reasons for the lack of flowering. First of all, this is the incorrect formation of the crown, which leads to a predominantly vertical arrangement of branches.

Such apple trees grow poorly and practically do not form flowers. Also, the cause of problems with the appearance of ovaries and flowering may be a lack of iron. That is why it is recommended to provide the plantings with high-quality nutrition, including feeding them with various iron-containing fertilizers.

It should be remembered that certain varieties of apple trees are self-sterile. That is, in order for them to set fruit, it will be necessary to plant so-called pollinator varieties in close proximity. When choosing one or another variety, you should clarify the method of formation of ovaries and, based on this, plan the location of fruit trees on your personal plot.

Yellowing of a young apple tree

The main reasons why leaves of a young apple tree turn yellow:

If the groundwater is shallow, then a three-year-old young apple tree may begin to turn yellow (such cases are not uncommon).
Young apple trees are not typically affected by fungus, unlike older ones, which are more often susceptible to yellowing of the foliage due to fungal infections. An actively growing tree may not have enough nitrogen.
If not the entire apple tree turns yellow, but only individual branches with the formation of a brown edge near the leaf (marginal burn), then it is necessary to apply potash fertilizer.
With a deficiency of sulfur and nitrogen, the color changes of young leaves are similar, so you need to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizer.

Other reasons why young apple trees turn yellow:

Hot weather.
Pests.
Less commonly, fungal diseases.

The presence of spots on the leaves is a sign of scab or brown spot . Typically, scab damage is noticeable in the spring. Oily spots appear on the leaves, then a velvety coating appears and the plate turns brown and dries out.

To treat a young tree , Bordeaux mixture is used; Skor or Fitosporin preparations are also suitable.

To increase viability, the affected specimen is fed with nitroammophos, and the box is dissolved in 10 liters of water.

First, water the tree generously with several buckets of water, then add 2-3 liters of the prepared solution.

Watch the video about a disease such as scab:

Preventive actions

In order not to wonder why the leaves of apple trees turn yellow and fall off in June, you need to follow the rules:

water regularly in hot weather;
destroy weeds in the immediate vicinity of the trunk;
carry out loosening and mulching;
treat the crown with insecticides and fungicides three times a season;
do annual sanitary pruning;
cover damaged areas with garden varnish;
shelter young animals for the winter.

Yellowing and leaf fall can be prevented by proper planting of crops, high-quality care in compliance with basic rules. During the growing season, the owner of a personal plot must check the condition of the trees, look for the first signs of fungal diseases or attacks by insect pests. If they are detected and treated in a timely manner, it is possible not only to save the apple tree, but also to avoid subsequent lack of harvest.

Source of the article: https://pocvetam.ru/poleznaya-infirmatsiya/bolezni-i-vrediteli/zhelteyut-listya-u-yabloni-v-iyune-chto-delat.html

Yellowing of seedlings

If this happened a short time after planting , then the reason why the leaves of apple tree seedlings turn yellow most likely lies in the wrong choice of location or deepening of the specimen.

In the first case, the development of the root system is hampered by a lack of oxygen, which arose as a result of the high humidity of the lower layers of the soil.

Exceeding the planting depth by 10-15 cm is also a common reason why leaves on an apple tree turn yellow.

Another reason for yellowing of the foliage of a seedling is due to unsuitable soil composition , for example as a result of high (alkaline) pH due to excess lime or fresh manure.

The leaves turn pale yellow and then fall off.

The disease is called chlorosis , other causes of which include:

Deficiency of iron salts, which is required for the synthesis of chlorophyll (green pigment).
Freezing of roots after winter.
Oxygen deficiency in the soil as a result of waterlogging.

If the problem occurs on seedlings

Planting young animals requires preliminary preparation and special attention to planting materials. A high-quality seedling guarantees a stable and good harvest every season, and damaged specimens will become sick and infect other crops.

When purchasing planting material, the gardener must carefully inspect it, paying attention to its appearance. Healthy young growth has elastic, green and intact shoots with a closed root system. Seedlings should be purchased from special nurseries, and not from hands in dubious places.

If young specimens are poorly planted, yellowness appears on the foliage, and after a while they begin to shed it. To avoid problems, it is necessary to prepare the planting hole in advance, and when planting a seedling, do not forget to carefully straighten the root system.

Important! To help plants take root faster when planting, they are watered with plenty of liquid and the soil is loosened. With this approach, they adapt better and get sick less often, begin to grow normally, and stop fading.

Summer (July-August)

Yellowing of leaves on an apple tree in summer is often associated with physiological disorders of the tree. For example, planting depth is too deep or the tree trunk freezes in winter .

Often, disturbances in the physiological functioning of plant tissues arise due to the human factor, in particular as a result of cutting a rope or wire into the bark.

It is necessary to remove all unnecessary elements, for example, the label of the seedling and its fastening.

ATTENTION: A typical mistake is untimely loosening of the grafting strap.

The growth of the trunk in width leads to incision . Minor damage is corrected by furrowing, that is, making cuts in the bark down to the wood at the damage, above and below it, to generate the formation of callus influxes.

Another reason why an apple tree turns yellow in summer is the physiological incompatibility of the scion and rootstock as a result of poor fusion of the grafted surfaces.

Typical mistakes during treatment

When using therapeutic procedures, gardeners often make mistakes, reducing their effectiveness:

when spraying apple trees against fungus in the autumn, they forget to repeat the manipulation with the arrival of heat;
During treatment, do not treat juniper bushes planted nearby - when it warms up, the infection will re-spread to the apple tree;
they apply insufficient or increased amounts of fertilizers - an excess of mineral mixtures can cause burns to the root system;
do not remove cut branches affected by rust - the disease again moves to the plant.

Important! Overfilling is more dangerous than lack of fluid due to the risk of stagnation. In constantly wet soil, the roots begin to quickly rot. The problem is also observed during drought - the crop can dry out due to dehydration.

Brief description of special cases

Young apple tree and seedling

Main reasons:

Wrong landing
Unsuitable soil composition,
Waterlogged soil
Infection with fungal diseases,
Freezing of roots in winter.

Often, a change in the color of leaf blades from green to yellow is associated with a lack of magnesium , boron, as well as potassium and phosphorus .

A deficiency of these elements causes the ends of the shoots to die.

The relationship between mineral deficiency and yellowing of leaves.

TIP: Sufficient nitrogen concentration is indicated by the presence of nettles as a weed. The presence of dandelion, on the contrary, indicates a shortage.

On one branch

Yellowing of the foliage on one branch may indicate that part of the tree is infested with aphids .

Other causes : damage to roots by mice or moles.

Many of the above options (freezing of roots, deficiency of elements) can lead to yellowing of not the entire tree.

A serious problem that threatens the life of the apple tree is bark diseases, for example, cytosporosis . The lesion first covers one branch, then spreads more strongly and finally to the entire tree.

Leaves turn yellow and dry out

The reason lies in the development of fungal diseases or sucking insects, in particular aphids. It is better to prevent such problems than to solve them as they arise.

Leaves curl and fall

As a result of feeding, aphids suck juices from the leaves, as a result of which the foliage curls and falls off. This coincides with the curvature of young shoots.

Aphids accumulate at the ends of branches, which is where it is necessary to treat them more intensively with Confidor or Iskra, and a decoction of wormwood or garlic .

The leaves are turning pale

The chlorosis described above usually occurs in early summer. Leaves with this disease can become almost white.

If chlorosis is mild, spraying with 2% iron sulfate will help.

If chlorosis occurs as a result of excess lime, then the site may be completely unsuitable for growing garden trees.

ADVICE: It is necessary to evaluate the condition of weeds (dandelion, bindweed, yarrow, etc.) in order to determine the cause of chlorosis of the apple tree. If the grasses are pale in color, then to normalize the soil, alfalfa is planted as green manure; rotted manure or ammonium sulfate/nitrate are also added to the soil (alkaline fertilizers are not suitable, only fertilizers with an acidic reaction).

What to do, how to save a tree

To get rid of problems and save the harvest, summer residents recommend paying attention to agrotechnical measures: processing, fertilizing, pruning. Proper care and treatment guarantee results.

What to do if the leaves fall

If leaves fall and turn yellow, disease may be the cause. It is recommended to remove all damaged leaves and shoots and burn them. If there are many foci of infection, sanitary pruning is carried out. Remove all diseased and dry shoots, as well as young shoots and branches that have no fruit. This is done in the morning using garden pruning shears, pre-treated with a solution of copper sulfate.

Wounds are covered with drying oil or oil paint. The remaining shoots and leaves are sprayed with the preparations “Raek”, “Tiovit Jet”, “Fitolavin”, “Fitomycin”.

5 days after treatment, the soil is fed with organic fertilizers - rotted manure or compost is laid out under the trees. Organic matter nourishes the soil and helps the tree recover faster. For young apple trees, liquid fertilizers are used - 0.5 liters of mullein are diluted in 10 liters of water and the plant is sprayed.

Attention! Beginner gardeners are afraid to prune the plant, believing that this will slow down the development of the fruit. This is not so - a tree pruned on time gives a good harvest and is less sick.

If the leaves turn yellow on a young apple tree

Young plants have fragile immunity. Yellow leaves are a sign of an unsuitable planting site, poor adaptation, or sudden changes in weather. It is recommended to fertilize the plant with the Rostmoment mineral complex. It accelerates the growth and development of apples and increases resistance to weather conditions. Diluting 5 g of the drug in 10 liters of water, apply it to the root.

Some summer residents prefer folk fertilizers. Wood ash is used - it contains calcium, phosphorus, copper, molybdenum. For 1 sq. m takes 400 g of dry matter. Add ash into special holes located 10 cm from the trunk.

If the problem occurs on seedlings

For planting, two-year-old seedlings with a developed root system are used. They are placed in a hole fertilized with organic matter and sprinkled with loose and dry soil. If the leaves turn yellow, then the reason lies in an inappropriate planting site, diseased seedlings, or poor soil.

Replanting an apple tree to a new location is dangerous - it is another stress for the plant. Therefore, it is better to manually remove the yellow leaves and add growth stimulants “Root Super”, “Ribav-Extra” or “Phytoumbrella” to the soil. They help seedlings quickly adapt to external conditions, increase productivity and strengthen the plant’s immunity.

Afterwards, the apple tree is mulched - this suppresses the development of weeds and retains moisture. Sawdust, hay, ash, sand, and mown grass are used as mulch. Some gardeners prefer decorative wood chips - they have a beneficial effect on the development of the tree and decorate the garden plot.

Fighting the disease

The most reliable way to get rid of rust damage to apple trees is to eliminate the juniper on the site. However, it can grow with neighbors who are unlikely to comply with such a desire.

Juniper, which can grow within a radius of several kilometers, is unlikely to be detected at all. Therefore, you will have to strengthen the health of the apple tree. Measures to combat rust are quite traditional; fungicide treatment is used for any fungal infections.

In autumn or early spring, the apple tree is sprayed with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture or a 3% solution of copper sulfate, spraying it before the leaves appear, so as not to burn them. This spraying destroys overwintered spores, as well as overwintering larvae and eggs of pests.

It is necessary to fight rust on an apple tree during the period of active growth of the fungus:

before flowering, before spores begin to disperse;
immediately after flowering;
2 weeks after the last treatment;
after harvesting fruit.

It is at this time that the spores of the fungus rust, scab, rot, and powdery mildew most actively scatter and germinate. Treatments will help prevent infections from occurring on trees.

Important! If the trees were sprayed with preparations for other fungal diseases, this also stops the spread of rust.

The first treatment is carried out in early May, before flowering. The apple tree is sprayed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or with the following preparations: Zineba, Poliram DF, Culumus.
The next spraying is carried out at the time of greatest dispersion of the infection - immediately after flowering.
The third treatment is 14 days after the second.

In the fight against infection, systematic and constant treatment of plants is necessary. Only at the right time will spraying give positive results.

Treatment of apple tree rust, as well as the destruction of powdery mildew, scab, and rot, lasts 2-3 seasons. Disease prevention is an annual mandatory task for every competent gardener.