Fire blight is a devastating bacterial disease that affects pear trees, including the popular Bradford pear. Characterized by blackened leaves and branches, oozing liquid, and eventual tree death, fire blight can quickly destroy an otherwise healthy tree. Fortunately, with proper disease identification, sanitation practices, and treatment methods, you can stop fire blight and save your Bradford pear trees.
Identifying Fire Blight
Catching fire blight early is key to saving infected trees. Learn how to spot the telltale signs of this destructive disease:
Blackened Leaves and Branches
The first symptom of fire blight is blackened leaves and branches, as if scorched by fire. This begins at the tips before progressing down twigs and branches.
Oozing Liquid
As fire blight advances, a sticky, oozing liquid will emerge from cankers on branches and trunks. This ooze contains millions of bacteria that can spread the disease.
Cankers on Bark
Sunken, cracked cankers will develop on infected bark. These damaged areas often ooze liquid and eventually cause branches to wilt and die.
Rapid Wilting
Once fire blight takes hold, foliage rapidly wilts and turns brown or black. Entire branches wither within days or weeks.
Fruit Deformation
Infected pear fruit becomes shriveled, dried and blackened. The bacteria prevent proper fruit development.
By recognizing fire blight symptoms right away, you can quickly take steps to contain it.
Sanitation Practices To Limit Spread
Fire blight spreads rapidly, so sanitizing infected trees is crucial for disease control. Follow these practices:
Prune Diseased Areas
Prune out all symptomatic branches, cutting at least 6 inches below visible infection. Disinfect pruning tools between cuts with diluted bleach.
Remove Nearby Hosts
Eliminate nearby host plants like apple, crabapple, hawthorn, pyracantha, cotoneaster, mountain ash, ornamental pear and quince. These can harbor fire blight bacteria.
Destroy Fallen Leaves
Rake up and dispose of leaves and fruit debris from under infected trees. Bacteria overwinter here.
Sterilize Equipment
Clean and sterilize any gardening tools used on or near infected trees to avoid spreading fire blight. Diluted bleach works well.
With diligent sanitation, you can halt fire blight’s spread and set the stage for effective treatment.
Fire Blight Treatment Options
Once fire blight is identified, prompt treatment is crucial. Here are effective options for combatting this disease:
Plant Resistant Varieties
When planting new ornamental or fruiting pears, select blight-resistant cultivars like ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Chanticleer’, ‘Redspire’, ‘Trinity’ or ‘New Bradford’. These have greater natural defenses.
Apply Preventative Copper Sprays
Spraying copper sulfate or copper hydroxide monthly during bloom stages prevents bacterial infection on pear trees. Always follow label directions.
Use Biological Controls
Introducing beneficial bacteria like Bacillus subtilis competitively excludes fire blight bacteria. Serenade and other commercial biopesticides containing these bacteria are available.
Try Antibiotic Sprays
Bactericides containing streptomycin sulfate can be sprayed after pruning out infections to protect healthy tissue. However, antibiotic resistance is a concern.
Employ Pruning Paint
After meticulous pruning, paint cut branch surfaces with a wound dressing containing borax to deter spread. This shields wounds from infection.
Remove Heavily Infected Trees
If more than 30% of a Bradford pear tree is affected, removal may be necessary to protect surrounding trees. Stump grinding eliminates the pathogen.
Swift treatment using integrated methods keeps fire blight from annihilating pear trees. Consult with your local agricultural extension office for the best disease management strategies in your area. With a combination of cultural practices, sanitation, and chemical control, you can overcome this destructive pathogen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Blight on Bradford Pears
Many homeowners have questions when discovering fire blight on their Bradford pear trees. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about this disease:
What causes fire blight on Bradford pear trees?
Fire blight is caused by the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora. It infects pear trees during bloom periods, spreading through flowers, fruit, branches and trunks.
How does fire blight spread?
The fire blight bacteria spread via wind, rain, insects, birds, contaminated equipment, and infected plant material. Once a tree is infected, ooze from cankers contains millions of bacteria that can spread rapidly.
Should infected branches be pruned off?
Yes, pruning 6+ inches below visible infection is recommended. However, only prune during dry weather to avoid spreading bacteria through rainwater. Always sterilize pruning tools between cuts.
How can I tell if my whole tree needs removing?
If more than 30% of the canopy is affected, tree removal may be required. Stump grinding will eliminate the disease, as fire blight can survive in roots.
Are some Bradford pear varieties resistant?
Yes, select resistant cultivars like ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Chanticleer’, ‘Redspire’, and ‘New Bradford’ when planting ornamental pears. These have better defenses against fire blight.
What’s the best treatment for existing Bradford pear trees?
Copper sprays before bloom, along with pruning diseased branches, antibiotics, and borax paint provide the best treatment. Removing nearby susceptible plants also helps limit reinfection.
How do I avoid fire blight in my pear orchard?
Plant resistant varieties, use preventative copper applications, eliminate nearby hosts, disinfect equipment between trees, and quickly prune out infections to protect your orchard.
Will fire blight kill my Bradford pear?
If more than 30% of the tree canopy is affected, fire blight can eventually kill the entire tree. However, aggressive sanitation practices and chemical treatments generally combat the disease successfully.
Early intervention, proper cultural practices, and integrated disease management strategies are key to saving Bradford pears and ornamental flowering pear trees from fire blight damage. Careful monitoring, pruning, sanitation, and sprays limit its spread and impact.
Conclusion
Fire blight poses a serious threat to flowering Bradford pear trees and fruiting pear orchards. However, by identifying symptoms early and taking a multifaceted approach, you can contain and treat this destructive bacterial disease. Start by removing and destroying infected branches, fruit and leaves to limit spread. Follow up with preventative copper sprays, biological controls, antibiotics, and borax pruning paint to deter bacteria on healthy plant tissue. Select blight-resistant pear cultivars when planting. Monitor trees diligently, and be prepared to remove heavily infected specimens when necessary. Staying vigilant for signs of fire blight and taking swift, thorough action at the first appearance of symptoms offers the best chance of saving your beautiful Bradford pears from this devastating disease. With persistence and integrated treatment methods, you can overcome fire blight and maintain thriving, productive pear trees.