My bradford pears are dying! It is that time of year again when people notice the tips of their bradford pears are turning brown and dying. Actually the trees are not dying, but they do have a disease called “fire blight.”
Many bradford pears in Lowndes County have fire blight. The most noticeable symptom is dying of flowers and new leaves, young fruits and stems. The dying branches may bend into a shape that looks like a “shepard’s crook.” The pathogen quickly travels from the new growth into the older growth, killing several feet of a branch.
Fire blight is a disease caused by a bacteria that infects trees through natural openings, flower parts and wounds in the tree. In the spring the bacteria oozes out of cankers, where the bacteria overwinters.
The ooze attracts bees and other insects which spread the disease to other parts of the tree and to healthy trees. Fire blight can also be spread by rain, wind and pruning tools. When conditions are 65 degrees or higher and conditions are humid, it spreads more quickly.
Numerous other trees are susceptible to fire blight. Apple, loquat, crabapple, plum, cherry and pear are commonly affected but, since there are so many bradford pears, that is what most people notice.
Bradford pears actually have some resistance to fire blight. The branch does not seem to die as far back as fruiting pears. Pears that are fruit producers have less resistance and some of the older varieties may die from fire blight.
After fire blight is detected in the tree, there is not much that can be done to stop the spread because the bacteria is inside the tree. Pruning affected branches can be done on young trees because branches are easy to reach. Pruning on large trees is difficult.
When pruning be sure to dip the pruners in a 10 percent bleach solution between cuts to avoid spreading bacteria to other branches. Cut eight inches below the dead area of the branch.
Since fire blight loves tender new growth, avoid heavy nitrogen applications. Keep sprinklers from wetting the foliage. Water on the foliage makes most disease problems worse.
Fire blight can be decreased with applications of fungicides but they need to be applied before new growth begins. Fungicides containing copper sulfate such as Kocide, sprayed every seven days during bloom, can help reduce the disease. Fire blight can be unsightly in trees but it usually does not kill the tree.
Jake Price is with the Lowndes County Extension Service Agency.