How to cure a sick pear tree? If you are asking yourself this question, it is because you have noticed that something is wrong with your fruit tree. Despite being a resistant variety, pear trees are not exempt from infections. The good thing is that, by applying the indicated care, we can make them healthy again.
Let's see what may be happening to your tree and how you should act. The sooner you get down to business, the better chance there is that your pear tree will survive.
Diseases that affect pear trees
The infections that these trees can suffer are mainly caused by bacteria and fungi. There are many types, but this time we are going to review three of the most common.
Although we will see how to treat a sick pear tree later, the first thing we should recommend is good prevention. Periodically check the state of both the leaves and the trunk of the tree, in order to detect any possible incident. Early detection can be vital to save the life of your pear tree.
- fire blight As you can already imagine from its name, this is a disease of bacterial origin, and its nickname of fire comes from the effects it causes. Because its main symptom is the appearance of some dark spots on leaves, which may turn brown and curl downward. That is, they give the sensation of having been burned. In addition, this bacterium can also cause the death of the branches and the youngest shoots. Rain, wind and the action of insects are mainly responsible for the spread of bacteria throughout the tree, making it a difficult infection to treat.
- Pear scab. This disease is caused by a fungus and usually appears at times when the tree has been exposed to excessive humidity and wind. Scabies manifests itself through some spots of color between gray and brown that are present in branches, leaves, and even in the fruits. In some cases, the spots join each other and can cause the leaves to fall untimely.
- Pear canker. This disease can become very serious and cause the death of the tree. It is of fungal origin and the source of infection is usually a wound on the bark. It manifests itself through dark red spots that are getting bigger and weakening the structure of the pear tree.
How to cure a sick pear tree?
The tree can get sick for many reasons, but the treatment usually always follows the same basic processes. However, if you have any doubts, it is recommended that you consult an expert in horticulture or phytopathology.
To cure a pear tree, follow these steps:
Identification of the disease
The infections may look very similar to each other, but they are not. What you have to do in this case is to observe your tree closely, checking the branches, the trunk, the leaves, the new shoots and even the fruits. The signs you see are the ones that will tell you what is happening.
With what we have seen in the previous section regarding the most common diseases, you already have more than enough information to detect them.
diseased tree pruning
pruning is a classic resource to treat diseased trees and plants. It may seem like a no-brainer, but removing the diseased part is the best solution to prevent the infection from spreading further.
When it comes to how to cure a diseased pear tree, you have to remove all the affected parts, cutting below the damaged area. But be careful, because pruning also poses a risk. Make sure that the scissors are well cleaned and disinfected before starting work. We do not want a tree that is already sick to receive more pathogens from another that you have previously pruned.
Similarly, once you're done, give the scissors a good wipe down and apply some of the sanitizing solution with a cotton ball or cloth. It dries well and so there is no risk that the disease that the pear tree has can spread to other trees that you have to prune later.
Application of specific products
We have already eliminated the most affected parts, now we are going to give it medication to our tree. We do this based on fungicides or bactericides, it depends on what type of infection we have detected.
Always choose quality products and apply them following the manufacturer's instructions. Keep in mind that some must be applied at a specific time within the growth cycle of the tree.
Care and maintenance
A sick tree requires special attention. While you are in the recovery process it is more important than ever that it receives adequate watering. Do not let the soil dry out completely, so as not to force the pear tree to have to look for nutrients by expanding its roots, because now it needs to dedicate its energies to replenishing its branches and its trunk. But don't add too much moisture either, or the roots will rot.
During the disease the tree needs a extra dose of nutrients, so it is a good idea to provide them through a specific fertilizer for fruit trees. Not because you are sick you have to add more doses, this is not good. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Lastly, make sure to keep the area around the tree clean. The leaves, fallen fruits and other remains can be a source of pathogens and we must keep them as far away as possible from the diseased pear tree.
Avoid stress to the tree
Your pear tree is going through a particularly difficult time and it should not have more stress than necessary. In case of extreme temperatures, try to protect the tree as much as possible.
When it comes to how to cure a diseased pear tree, spending some time and proper care is the secret to getting your tree back on its feet. Looking to the future, do not forget to apply a good prevention, and surely your fruit tree will accompany you for many years. Have you recovered a sick pear tree? We would like to hear about your experience.