Fireblight bad this year?

[backyardtndeer]

Large really nice Bartlett pear in my yard appears to have the dreaded fireblight. Seeing limbs up very high in the tree, doubt I could get to them without my pole saw from the scaffold, would infected limbs spread it as they fell?

Rode back and checked my 6 pear trees in my back field and they have signs too, but they are Kiefer and Bartlett trees. Kiefer are supposed to be resistant. Last time I had trees get hit, they were about the same size, I I had to push them up and burn them. What do you do....

 

[Gunpowder]

A log cabin in TN with a pear tree. It just don't get prettier than that!

As for your question, I feel like that should be pruned. I'll ask my wife, she's the green thumb

 

[backyardtndeer]

As for your question, I feel like that should be pruned. I'll ask my wife, she's the green thumb

It's all over around the entire tree, all the way to the top. Tree is probably between 20 to 25 ft tall.

 

[Gunpowder]

Alright, talked to a professional landscaper: if the blight is as bad as you say, the tree is in real danger. Try not to shake the limbs. You are either going to need to aggressively prune her, or remove her. Those are about your only choices. Friend recommends getting a "tree surgeon" (I giggled at that, but apparently it's a real thing) to evaluate and give you a solid answer. It may be too far gone for you to help, but it's close enough that you're going to need a professional.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Alright, talked to a professional landscaper: if the blight is as bad as you say, the tree is in real danger. Try not to shake the limbs. You are either going to need to aggressively prune her, or remove her. Those are about your only choices. Friend recommends getting a "tree surgeon" (I giggled at that, but apparently it's a real thing) to evaluate and give you a solid answer. It may be too far gone for you to help, but it's close enough that you're going to need a professional.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TNlandowner]

I had two Bartlett pear trees with the same disease. I tried heavy pruning, but the disease came back the next year. Following a UT Extension rep's advice, we cut and burned the trees. Fortunately, the disease has not spread to our Moonglow pear trees, which I believe are closely related to the Bartlett species.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I had two Bartlett pear trees with the same disease. I tried heavy pruning, but the disease came back the next year. Following a UT Extension rep's advice, we cut and burned the trees. Fortunately, the disease has not spread to our Moonglow pear trees, which I believe are closely related to the Bartlett species.

Yeah, that's what I am afraid I am going to have to do here. It's been 20+ years since I had to cut down any, also consulted our UT extension rep and got the same advice.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Alright, talked to a professional landscaper: if the blight is as bad as you say, the tree is in real danger. Try not to shake the limbs. You are either going to need to aggressively prune her, or remove her. Those are about your only choices. Friend recommends getting a "tree surgeon" (I giggled at that, but apparently it's a real thing) to evaluate and give you a solid answer. It may be too far gone for you to help, but it's close enough that you're going to need a professional.

Went overly aggressive with my polesaw. It's quite sad, you don't realize just how much shade you get from a good tree. Also vacuumed up all the leaves under the tree. Guess we will see if it was enough.

Too tired to play with fire today, but all the trimmings moved to the middle of one pasture. Will have to evaluate my 6 trees in my back field closer tomorrow.

 

[Gunpowder]

Went overly aggressive with my polesaw. It's quite sad, you don't realize just how much shade you get from a good tree. Also vacuumed up all the leaves under the tree. Guess we will see if it was enough.
View attachment 323745
Too tired to play with fire today, but all the trimmings moved to the middle of one pasture. Will have to evaluate my 6 trees in my back field closer tomorrow.

Yeah I'd call that an aggressive pruning alright! So sorry about your tree, man

 

[Ski]

Man that sucks. Tough break

 

[backyardtndeer]

Man that sucks. Tough break

It does, but guess I'll be ok with it if it saves the tree.

 

[TNlandowner]

Keep us informed how the trees handle the heavy pruning.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Considered sealing or treating all the open cuts, but google said that was a bad idea that it would promote disease.

 

[Ski]

I've been fortunate that I've never had to deal with it. I struggle a little with cedar rust in some apple trees, and black knot in my plums, but so far nothing terrible enough that I had to remove a tree.

 

[TNTreeman]

Yeah, that's what I am afraid I am going to have to do here. It's been 20+ years since I had to cut down any, also consulted our UT extension rep and got the same advice.

Try spraying it down from top to bottom with a 6 to 4 ratio of water and white vinegar . There is also something called streptomycin that has been known to work . Hit it with the vinegar solution next spring around March before it leafs out and then a couple weeks later. Spray the bark and everything. Nothing is a guarantee but these are some things that have worked before. Hope she recovers for you.