apple trees not flowering this year. Anyone else?

Thank you J52.

Sorry for being stupid but what is a grease band?

I’ve looked it up and ordered both, thanks

I agree : trees tend to fruit in cycles .
You haven't said where you are .
I'm wondering if you had a draught last summer .
Did you mulch ?
Vitax Q4 is a highly recommended fertiliser , though I'm changing to potato fertiliser for my Iris .
There is a new fruit feed by Pomona .
Sometimes you need to tweak the NPK .
Perhaps , you'll get a late crop .

Esmay what Iris are you feeding, and why potato fertiliser?

Well the plum did start out with four pieces of blossom. It now has neither blossom nor much in the way of leaves! The pigeons and sparrows are systematically stripping it. Heartbreaking. It’s too big to net, and I don’t like nets anyway, but I think it’s going to have to go rather than be an eyesore every year. I’ve tried hanging CDs in the branches - they ignore them.

Does anyone spray with fungicide during blossom time? Or is it best to wait until blossom drop?

We have an espaliered apple and pear tree. Both have blossoms, the pear for the first time. We did get some scab on the apples last year so wanted to be proactive for fungus!

Namsnanny

Are apple trees like roses Callistemon, in as much as a new tree shouldn't be planted where an old one grew?

Oh!
Perhaps that's its problem.
I'll keep an eye on it this year. However, an eating apple planted in a better position isn't doing very well either.

The old tree didn't have disease, it just got very overloaded one autumn and gently slid over.

Too early for the Bramley here in the Scottish Borders/Midlothian. We're 700ft up.
However my 45 Yr old pear tree is covered in blossom. I can't remember the name though it may be French.

Namsnanny -
I have a huge collection of bearded iris and other iris .
You can't feed them with some products .
I gave some to a friend and she used horse manure and chicken pellets and they died .
Feeds high in nitrogen usually produce lots of leaves and no flowers .
I use Vitax Q4 all over the garden - it's very good quality and slow release .
I read on an iris specialist website that they use a feed , which is the same as potato fertiliser - only it's marketed under their name and I'm not in the States .
I've just use an entire tub of Vitax and might get some potato fertiliser to see if the result is better .
You can also water in Tomatorite .

I have used grease bands several times on my last allotment, you need to protect any route upwards, including wooden stakes. They are very sticky and messy and I stopped using them

Unfortunately, the two are not going to flower in may. No sign of any buds but the spurs are looking very healthy. The 3 culinary/eating apples are all in the same pollination group and bought specifically for the purpose of cross pollination. The tall crabapple is, hopefully ,still doing its job as it is also a cross pollinator.

I never previously used vitax q4, it is a very easy to use fertilizer and I got it down before the rain. Q4 contains less nitrogen and more phosphate and potassium, also magnesium and trace elements. Growmore only has 3 components and is too high in nitrogen for the fruit. My comfrey compost/mulch is excellent but the trees are just too young to bear fruit year on year. They need to build themselves up

I have accepted it and grateful that my gooseberries have set

Pear tree in Scotland. Plant a pear for your heir as the saying goes

Esmay

Namsnanny -
I have a huge collection of bearded iris and other iris .
You can't feed them with some products .
I gave some to a friend and she used horse manure and chicken pellets and they died .
Feeds high in nitrogen usually produce lots of leaves and no flowers .
I use Vitax Q4 all over the garden - it's very good quality and slow release .
I read on an iris specialist website that they use a feed , which is the same as potato fertiliser - only it's marketed under their name and I'm not in the States .
I've just use an entire tub of Vitax and might get some potato fertiliser to see if the result is better .
You can also water in Tomatorite .

Thank you for this advice Esmay I have several groups of bearded iris which I absolutely adore. But I have never fed them, as I was under the illusion that they preferred harsh conditions.
I think I will get some Vq4 fertiliser now.
Do let us know how you get on with your potato fertiliser wont you?

I would love to see a photo of your Iris collection, if ever you feel like posting one?

Thise who have painted their fruit tree trunks, and/or put bands on them, which did they prefer, and is there anything else they have found to deter these insects?

Namsnanny ,
I've sent you a private message .
I'm thrilled that you like bearded iris .
Best wishes ,
Esmay .