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Help! Pear tree leaves gone brown.

gjcargjcar Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
I've been away fr a few weeks and got back to see that my 2 year pear tree looks poorly. Leaves start off brown at the tips, then all over.  They don't fall off though. Stems and trunk look OK, no obvious cankers.  Any thoughts?  I'd hate to lose it, but there are other pear and apple trees of the same age close by so if its anything infective I might be best getting rid before it spreads.  Thanks!

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't grow pears, but the golden rule when planting any tree or shrub into grass is to clear a proper area first. The grass is a huge drain on resources - especially water. There's also another tree or similar very close to it, which will also be using up moisture.
    Once established thoroughly, they can cope more easily, but it may have been too much for it, especially if you're in one of those regularly drought ridden areas - last year was very difficult for many plants. If it was planted within the last year or so, it may have been struggling to establish properly. 
    That stake/metal pole is also right in at the base of it - was that already there? That could have caused root damage if put in after planting. 
    Someone else may have further ideas and advice though  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I agree with @Fairygirl
    I've found pears are trickier than apples when it comes to care - especially during the first few years.

    This is how your staked tree should look -


    The stake end is pointing toward the prevailing wind. Its sole purpose is to keep the fragile hair roots stable so they can grow without being continually snapped by the rest of the tree swaying in the wind.
    With the stake quite low down the roots can grow without disturbance and the trunk can move in the wind thus strengthening it.
    The clear area around the base of the tree allows rain to penetrate properly and the lack of grass/weeds at the base means there's more nutrients for the tree too.
    I put a 4" mulch of home-made compost or well rotted manure around the base of my pears in the early Spring to provide more nutrition and help with water retention.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • gjcargjcar Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone; I've restored the cleared area around the base of the tree and mulched; 2 months ago it looked a lot like the pic above but while I've been away the grass went mad!  As the brown leaf problem was spreading quickly I made the difficult decision to prune back heavily on the assumption that if it is fireblight it would kill the tree quickly and possibly infect it's neighbours.    Will just have to wait and see what happens now!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't think it's fireblight as mine get a few similar leaves every year which I leave, but no harm in taking preventative measures just in case.
    I've often tried to find the cause of the problem but without success.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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