Q Can I help boost poorly fruiting ‘James Grieve’?

A Fruit splitting might have been the result of a late frost or due to last year’s early drought followed by rain, which caused apples to swell and split.

Cut off the dead branch, which may be affected by canker, and balance the shape by pruning back some of the long, badly placed stems. Prune new shoots to make growth more bushy. Finally, cut away a 1m (3ft 3in) circle of grass around the trunk to avoid damaging it when you mow. Plus the grass is competing for water and nutrients.