Expert Gardener 3.75gal Apple Granny Smith Live Tree Plant Sun

I purchased this Granny Smith apple tree, and it was already in very poor condition. Nearly all of the branches were completely dead — when cut, the wood was brown and dry throughout. The leaves at the top were dried out and lifeless, and the only green growth was small shoots at the very base of the trunk, which indicates the upper portion of the tree had likely already died back before purchase. After doing a scratch test on the trunk, the outer bark showed some green cambium, but every branch above was dead. A healthy apple tree (Malus domestica) from a nursery should have living branches, buds, or active growth along the structure of the tree. This one arrived essentially as a bare stick with dead branches and no viable canopy. Fruit trees are supposed to establish quickly when planted, but starting with a tree that already has significant dieback makes successful growth unlikely. Based on the condition at purchase, this tree appears to have been stressed or dying before it ever left the store. I would recommend buyers carefully check branches and buds before purchasing, because this tree clearly should not have been sold in this condition.

Tree would not have been purchased by anyone "off the shelf". It was around 15ft tall with a small patch of leaves at the end. No branches.