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Pear stain on pear tree and blackthorn

amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi

I moved two months ago and now have a pear tree. Unfortunately, it was badly infected (95 % of the leaves) with pear stain which severely affected the fruit growth with just 3 small pears.

From research, I have taken action and cut off all infected leaves and branches in the hope that it will grow new healthy leaves next year. From what I can work out, the fungus had come from blackthorn, or the tree has also infected the blackthorn too. 

Upon further investigation, I noticed that the infected blackthorn growing around the pear tree is in fact fused to the pear tree. So I am now trying to saw off the blackthorn. I have removed maybe a third of the blackthorn so far. 

Will this affect the pear tree and hiw can I prevent the blackthorn growing back without harming the pear tree? 

Once I've finished cutting all the unwanted bits away, I will clear around the tree and make sure no diseased leaves are left. Should I do anything else to feed or protect it? 

Also, how do i permanently remove blackthorn from unwanted areas? There are lots of' stumps' cut to ground level in the lawn. I don't want them there as the children play on the lawn

Quite new to all this. 

Thanks in advance




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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited September 2021
    Have you got some photos? 
    I don't know what you mean by 'pear stain'.  Do you mean rust?  :)
    Are you sure what you have is blackthorn? If you need to get rid of stumps, you can use a stumpkiller. SBK is the best one and readily available, but it'll kill off the grass too. 
    https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/vitax-sbk-brushwood-concentrate-killer-250ml/p/0449133
    It's available in lots of outlets and online


    Feeding any struggling plant is a bad idea. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Good thread on Pear Rust here, maybe you can take some comfort from it.
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/988359/pear-rust-huge-tree-affected/p1
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
    Thank you xx
  • amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
    Fairygirl said:
    Have you got some photos? 
    I don't know what you mean by 'pear stain'.  Do you mean rust?  :)
    Are you sure what you have is blackthorn? If you need to get rid of stumps, you can use a stumpkiller. SBK is the best one and readily available, but it'll kill off the grass too. 
    https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/vitax-sbk-brushwood-concentrate-killer-250ml/p/0449133
    It's available in lots of outlets and online


    Feeding any struggling plant is a bad idea. 
    Sorry, I meant pear rust lol. 
    Yep it definitely seems to be blackthorn. (I've had several thorns splinter off in my skin, very ouchies). I did check on a plant finder app but I will double check tomorrow. 

    I haven't any pictures but will take some tomorrow. 

    Thank you for the advice on stump killer. I will see what I can find.
    X xx 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d like to see photos of the ‘blackthorn’ leaves. I suspect what you may have is a sucker from the quince rootstock that the pear was grafted onto … some of the rootstocks are from quince varieties that bear thorns. It may be taking all the nutrition and that may be why your pear hasn’t fruited well … although that could
    also be due to the appalling weather at blossom time. I have far fewer pears this year due to the weather. 
    If it is a sucker I'm afraid using a stump killer will also kill the main tree. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
    Dovefromabove said:
    I’d like to see photos of the ‘blackthorn’ leaves. I suspect what you may have is a sucker from the quince rootstock that the pear was grafted onto … some of the rootstocks are from quince varieties that bear thorns. It may be taking all the nutrition and that may be why your pear hasn’t fruited well … although that could
    also be due to the appalling weather at blossom time. I have far fewer pears this year due to the weather. 
    If it is a sucker I'm afraid using a stump killer will also kill the main tree. 

    You are absolutely right! Just looked up quince to see what it looked like and that is exactly what it looks like! 

    Can I still cut back the quince part without it damaging the tree?

    I will use the stump killer elsewhere where there is quince away and separate from the tree.

    Thank you for your help xx
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The problem is that the ones springing up even some distance from the pear will be coming from the roots of the quince. The stump killer will travel back along the roots and kill the main tree. 😢 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
    Oh... 
    In that case I won't use stump killer... 

    I guess the best course of action is just to keep the plants that spring up at bay by cutting back to stump?

    So I guess it's a choice between living with quince springing up randomly or saying goodbye to the pear... 

    I think for the moment I will live with the quince springing up 😔 would be too sad to let the peartree go 😔 


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Are they appearing in the lawn?  if so regular mowing when they’re still soft little sprigs will control them. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amanda.smith161279NhwmvYeFamanda.smith161279NhwmvYeF Posts: 7
    Dovefromabove said:
    Are they appearing in the lawn?  if so regular mowing when they’re still soft little sprigs will control them. 
    Yes, however only stumps left. I did dig out one today and sliced through a root which was quite thick, about 4cm in diameter. It was lifting paving stones to the next level of lawn. Am hoping that will stop it growing up on that spot again but I guess I'll have to wait and see.. 

    I will definitely do that with any future sprigs I notice, mowing them to keep them at bay. 

    It was an elderly couple that lived here before so I'm guessing the task eventually got on top of them.

    Xx
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