Garden Pests and Diseases: I need help! My apple tree has got something and is dying!, 2 by honesteyes

honesteyes wrote:
Hey guys! I really need some help. Early this year my apple tree had a branch that died for no obvious reason. I chopped it off and thought that was the end of it because the rest of the tree looked fine. Then, during the summer another branch started dying and then another started even more recently. First the leaves will dry a little and then the branch starts to get darker until that branch is total dead. It seems like it spreads from the tip of the branch downward. And then, just this week, I've noticed some leaves on other branches starting to look like they are in poor shape too. I really would hate to lose this tree. Does any body know what it could be?

Also, when I've cut off branches, I notice that there are dark parts in the middle of the dead branches.