Apple Tree Leaves Turning Yellow and Brown. Causes and Solutions

Everyone wants to have an apple tree in their garden, but it brings many of problems, in which leaves turn yellow is a common one.

To fix the issues, you need first to understand the main cause, which make apple leaves to turn yellow. It could be nutrient deficiencies, pests, and diseases, or also could be watering issues. After you identify the main issues, you take proper steps to treat them and even prevent them from happening in the future.

In the below blow, I will share my personal experience in diagnosing and treating apple of my orchard from brown and yellow leaves. It will also answer your question that why are my apple tree leaves turning brown. So, without wasting any time, let’s get to it.

Cause of Brown and Yellow Leaves on Apple Tree:

The yellowing of apple leaves has a lot of reasons. Which some of the most common are listed and explained below.

Nutrients Deficiencies:

Nutrient delicacies are one of the most common causes of turning leaves yellow and brown in plants. The nutrients deficiencies in apples are also common, but, unlike other plants, it’s not just nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency but it also includes iron, potassium, and magnesium deficiencies.

Potassium Deficiency:

The first sign of potassium deficiency you will see in apples is by turning their leaves yellow. At first, the leaf edge starts turning yellow, and then the whole leaf turns yellow and then brown and finally falls off. It is caused due to two main reasons: one is a lack of potassium and infertile soil. The other is inconsistent pH levels, especially the alkaline, which prevents the roots from absorbing other nutrients.

Magnesium Deficiency:

Unlike nitrogen deficiency, magnesium deficiency is less common in apple trees, but it’s still considered a possible reason. Instead of yellow, the leaf’s edges start brownish, spread to their main veins and finally fall. It is usually caused by the sandy soil and its excessive pH level. It could also be the reason for excessive potassium fertilizer.

Solution to Nutrient Deficiency:

You have to manage the nutrients of your soil, and for that, you have to test that soil. After the test, you will know lacking nutrients. The according to the result you can either add fertilizer into your soil or stop adding extra fertilizer.

Also Read: Reasons for Tomatoes burnt Leaves!

Watering Issues:

Watering issues are also common issues in damaging the plants and mostly their leaves. It turns its leaves yellow and brown, which then fall off. Now, what are the watering issues? Well, it means overwatering, underwatering or improper watering.

An apple plant usually needs about 3 inches of water every week to ten days. But if you have an apple tree or orchard or are in hot area, then you should increase the water little bit more but if cold environment with cold breeze then you limit the water accordingly.

Pests and Diseases:

Just like other plants, apple trees can also be attacked by insects and pests that feed on their apples and leaves, which causes them to damage them. These plants are also attacked by diseases, some of which are caused by pests. Some of its common diseases, which turn the leaves yellow, are given below.

• Iron Chlorosis
• Honeycrisp Leaf Mottle Disorder (Honeycrisp Chlorosis)
• Powdery Mildew Podosphaera leucotricha
• Roundheaded Appletree Borer
• Saperda candida

Solution for Pest and Diseases:

To prevent apple tree pests and diseases, you need IPM (integrated pest management) strategies, which include proper spraying and the use of different soaps and oils. You should also prune the affected areas to prevent infection or disease spread.

Drought Stress:

A plant is through different conditions that cause excessive stress, in which drought stress is mainly common. Sometimes, the rain doesn’t fall, which causes drought in that area. Those droughts affect every plant, including apples. As a result, the apple drops most of its leaves, which also affects its fruit.

Issues with Roots:

Roots are not just the base for a plant but a gateway of its nutrients and water. Sometimes, the roots get infected by a fungals for example, Phytophthora, Armillaria, and Pythium, which rot the roots, and as a result, many things happen, including leaves turning yellow and falling off.

FAQs

Conclusion:

The yellow and brown leaves on apple trees mean different things. But luckily, all these issues are manageable. After knowing its main causes, it will be easy to solve it and prevent it from spreading further.

I hope you understand and above article, but if you have any questions, let me know in the comment section.