A likely answer to your delima of not being able to grow apple trees on your new property. The cedar trees on your property are no doubt the culprit. Apple trees are highly susceptable to a disease called Apple cedar Rust. Varieties most often affected are York Imperial, Wealthy, Jonathan,Ben Davis,and Rome Beauty. The rust fungus belongs to a large grouop of fungi that must complete the different stages of their life cycle on different hosts. The most common second, or alternate host of apple-cedar rust is red cedar. From these it spreads in the spring to apple leaves and young fruit,but it must pass again to a red cedar if it is to continue it's development. Infection with the rust fungus takes place when the fruits are young. It either causes the fruits to drop or be flattened or malformed. The disease can be controlled by spraying or removing all red cedars in the neighborhood of an orchard. I think this is your problem, and the reason why there is no apple trees in your vicinity. If the cedars are yours, you will have to probably make a choice as to whether you want the cedars or the apple trees. Hope this is helpfull. Joan

This is great Joan! I mean not great about Apple cedar rust, but great information. Knowledge really is power! Unfortunately, I can't get rid of the cedars. I only have 2 or 3 cedar trees in my yard but my back yard backs up against 1000's of acres of cedar trees and my property is only about 100 feet from front to back. My parent-in-laws have a cedar tree in their yard, too! I love the cedar trees because they house so many species of bird, I think I would choose the cedars over the apples. Thanks for saving me a lot of $$$ I would have wasted on this