Rotted/diseased apple tree trunk...any solution

[blue_eyes777]

Hi all!

New to the forums!

 

I have a 5 year old apple tree with a rotting looking bottom trunk.

 

I noticed a couple of months ago - thought it was squirrel damage and covered it up.

 

I enclose photos. It fruited well this year - a heavy cropper.

 

Any idea what the problem is? Any solutions?

 

Yours in hope - love this tree .

[Fungus]

Mulching will help by reducing competition from the lawn for water and nutrients, allowing worms etc to decompact the soil ...

 

... and diminish the competition for endomycorrhizal symbionts with grass and other plants, on which' mycelia the tree and plants both highly depend for the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil food web and for the protection of their roots against parasites.

[Gollum]

one other thing you could try is bridge grafting.

an old trick.

Purchase a couple of apple root stocks M26 OR M106

Plant them either side and graft them into the stem above the damaged area.

this will aid support, supply of nutrients and if the infected area fails full support of the tree.