As I pruned my apple tree (not sure what kind, it only produced a few bad tasting ones this fall), I noticed a mushroom-like fungus on one branch. It actually looked like slices of mushrooms on the branch. The branch easliy snapped off with a little tug. It was about 2" in diameter. I live in northern CA. Obviously a concern is a diseased tree. Any thoughts or recommendations???

 

Hi stevenardigo

Apple's get some odd problems, however I have not seen Fungus on any healthy Apple Tree branches. Did you spray it with anything yet? What color is it ( the fungus ) & is there any color in the inside the wood where you cut it?

How old is the tree & what is it's general health?

Is that like they stick their caps out like playing cards on edge with no stems?

 

I did not spray it with anything. The color of the fungus is very similar to a button mushroom, almost like a cross section of one. It looks like a bunch half circles varying in size (most are a couple of inches long) just growing out of the branch. no unusual color in the wood, but that particular branch appeared to be rotting inside. The tree has seemed healthy up to this point, there was lots of small leafy branches developing over the summer. I do not know the age of the tree as we have only owned it for a few months. Id say it trunks diameter would be 12-16'', if that helps.

 

Hi stevenardigo


I thought I recognized the mushrooms, you see them on dying limbs on old trees. Mushrooms that you see, are only the fruiting body like an Apple. once it spreds it's spores it goes back into the earth.

Fungi or Mushroom plants, can spread all throughout a tree, & large patchs of lawns. This tree is old and will continue until one cold winter, & there will be just the skeleton left in Spring.

While I have never let them ( Fruit Trees ) get this old, it's time not to cut & replant 2 or 3 Semi-Dwarf fruit trees. Or you could go with full size, only it takes longer to get fruit & with the Semi-Dwarfs you can get more flavors in the same space.

In the Sticky ( Useful Garden Links ) there are some links for the Old fashioned fruit trees & man do they tase good. There are many reasons we have the tastless things they call Apples in the stores today. A few reasons are they grow fruit that packs neatly in shipping boxes, Apples that can be picked unripe, & will change color & look ripe after they are subjected to Phosgene Gas. I'll take the tasty old timers any day over the plastic tasting new varities we call Apples these days.

Well good luck on making your choice's, that's the fun part.

 

I got the same fungus mushrooms on 2 of my apple trees. I got old trees maybe 8 -12 inch trunk. Is there anyway to spray and kill the fungus?