Hello I have a crabapple tree that the previous owner planted to feed wildlife. This not your standard ornamental crabapple. It flowers every other year. Starting a couple of years ago I was getting a branch that would suddenly die off completly. Last year I gave it a bottle of the BAyer Tree and shrub insect killer followed the directions and poured it around the trunk. This year the tree did not have any die off untill the last couple of weeks and know 4 branches have completly withered and died. Can you tell me what I need to do to save the tree? In the spring I pruned the dead branches from the previous die off. Thanks for you help Mark
Hello Jimweed How can I tell if it is this Bacterial Blight. Just a review: The Branch completely dies and withers in a couple of weeks. The rest of the tree seems healthy except for the effected branches. There can be a healthy branch right next to the affected one. There are now about 5 branches that are affected. IT has been going on for a couple of years. Is there a treatment for what you think it is? Thanks Mark
Commonly Bacterial Blight will have other symptoms then just die back. Such as Shot Hole, which will leave numerous holes in the leaves, as well as Brown rot, which will show clumps of brown dead leaves hanging from the branches effected. The only real way to know for sure if your tree has Bacterial Blight is by having a plant lab do a diagnostic test from a submitted sample of your tree. Other possible natural causes for die back could be root damage from severe weather conditions over the past few years. Original planting too deep and or soil built up around the base of the trunk can enhance the severity of die back caused by climate conditions. Is it possible to post a few pictures? And it may be a good idea to locate a local extension office who may be able to do a disease check. If anything this may help rule out some possible causes. Natural causes are very commonly mistaken for insect pest and disease symptoms. Best of luck, Jim.
