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Can a pear tree recover from rust?

CelSueCelSue Posts: 2
in Problem solving

I've got a lovely old pear tree in the garden which, after the warm winter, is covered in rust. As the fungicide to treat it has been withdrawn and the whole tree is covered is there anything I can do?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Pear rust can't complete it's life-cycle without overwintering on other plants, specifically junipers.  If you have a juniper nearby, you could consider removing it which may help.  Having said that, a severe infection can result in cankers on the pear tree within which the rust will survive, so also check for any canker affected areas and prune them out.  More here:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?PID=236

     

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Mrs GMrs G Posts: 336

    I would rake up the leaves and burn them rather than leave them on the ground or compost them.  

  • CelSueCelSue Posts: 2

    Thanks BobTheGardener - I'm going out with the plant encyclopaedia tomorrow to see if the tree next to it is a juniper. I'll have a look for canker as well

    Mrs G - yes, definitely. And hope for a colder snap this winter to kill all these bugs off!

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