[Hobnails]

Hi all,

I planted a four year old, pot grown bush Tomcot apricot just over  ayear ago.
It seemed to settle in well and put on some growth.
This year it began to blossom and start producing leaves then almost overnight
has shrivelled. The buds now appear dry and virtually dead. It has been watered and mulched with rotted horse manure.
I noticed small patches of sawdust on the trunk of the tree ( just over an inch diameter)
that suggests some sort of sawfly or grub burrowing into or out of the tree. I've not seen any creatures at all.
There is a slight sign of leaf life in a couple of twigs and I'd like to save the tree.
This is totally outside of my ken and would be glad of any advice to deal with the problem.

Thanks in advance.
Hobnails

[lancashiregardeninggal]

Could frost have got it (I don't know what the climate is like where you are)?  When frost gets my apricot the leaves shrivel and crumble between your fingers.  Having said that we have had a couple of frosts since the flowers have shown and I haven't had any shrivelling this year - although I guess there's time

[Hobnails]

Could frost have got it (I don't know what the climate is like where you are)?  When frost gets my apricot the leaves shrivel and crumble between your fingers.  Having said that we have had a couple of frosts since the flowers have shown and I haven't had any shrivelling this year - although I guess there's time

Many thanks for your advice. I covered it with fleece when we had a couple of light frosts a couple of weeks ago.
It's the burrowing insects that give me cause for concern.

Best Wishes

[BabbyAnn]

I planted a four year old, pot grown bush Tomcot apricot just over  ayear ago.

I'm not an expert but just putting my pennyth worth in ... perhaps it is a root or a rising sap problem as the blossom/leaves are clearly not getting the fluids and dying of dehydration.  Root damage - too much water, too little, physical damage from tools/pests or maybe even the weather during the really cold spell (can't see it myself but worth considering)  The sawdust seems a bit of a clue and I'm wondering if something was living in there, done the damage and has since gone?

Hope you can rescue the tree 

[Trillium]

Check here under goat moth:

http://www.botanical-online.com/english/apricotflora.htm

[Hobnails]

Thanks All! advices and pinions much appreciated!
That Goat Moth sounds scary- will be out at night to see if i can see the beasties!

I really feel for the tree if it has up to 500 bugs under its bark!
Best Wishes,
Hobnails