Hi there,

I have an old apple tree on my property that I'm worried about. It's been doing so well and produces like crazy every year. I'm in the process of pruning it, and it is covered in buds. There is a ton of new growth from last year. However, the bark is really peeling off the the trunk and several other splits off of the trunk and there is a flaky, yellowish looking bacteria or fungus where the peeling is present. I found the yellowish stuff on another branch that does not have peeling bark as well. What should I do?

There is nothing obviously wrong with your apple tree. Peeling bark can be an indication of disease but, it should be accompanied by some sort of oozing or goopiness.

Peeling bark can also be a sign of rapid growth. The yellow is lichen growing on the tree and is harmless. As long as you don't see any lesions or oozing and the tree is growing, I think you are good.

I think that it looks pretty good too.

Do you prune it often.
After I pruned mine I greatly regretted pruning too heavily. Branches came back gang busters but were never as strong as the old ones.
Seems to show sign of old age.
May still go on for many years.