Allotments 4 All

A question for a pal of mine i was not sure on

There are two apple trees in my garden, one cooker, one eater, but both are rather old and have bracket fungus growing on the trunk or main branches. Neither tree gave any fruit worth speaking of this year and the eating apples were rotting on the branches before they fell.

I think the best thing is to take them down and replant, but would appreciate the advice of far better gardeners than myself on this subject.

If I do decide to replant new trees, can I plant the new trees close by or will the root system become infected by the fungal growth of the roots from the old trees?

Any advice please anyone?

It would be better to plant away from the old site... "soil sickness" like with roses can be a problem and as you already identified honey fungus you don't want to challenge the new plants too soon...  :)

 :) will pass on ta