What is Affecting my Bartlett Pear Tree? - Ask Extension
Hello,
A gentleman came into our MSUE office today with a branch from his Bartlett Pear tree. As you can see from the pictures that I have provided t...
Knowledgebase
What is Affecting my Bartlett Pear Tree? #591210
Asked August 22, 2019, 11:08 AM EDT
Hello,
A gentleman came into our MSUE office today with a branch from his Bartlett Pear tree. As you can see from the pictures that I have provided that there is a light green covering on most of the smaller branches. The bark is cracking. I was told that the bark on the trunk is also starting to crack. There are fruit and leaves in the upper top branches, but nothing on the bottom half. He does have a few small ornamental crabapple trees, in the same vicinity, that seem to have the same problem. Just not as bad. You can see holes in the light green covering, where something may have hatched from.(picture 1) Could you please identify the problem and what the client can do about it? Thank you for your time!
Gladwin County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello! It looks like lichen is growing on the branches in the pictures. Lichen is common and not harmful. I have lichen on my serviceberry and birch tree in my yard. Here is a link to a MSU Extension article to read and learn more:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-s-that-growing-on-my-tree
Now the issue with the cracking bark and the defoliated lower portion of the canopy.... I would love to see a picture of the tree from a distance, a picture of the crack on the trunk and on the branch, and of the foliage both healthy and unhealthy. It is difficult to comment otherwise. Also needed is how old is the tree? how long has it been declining? any changes to the environment around the tree? Has it been pruned? Fertilized? Any herbicide use? Is the tree mulched? What is the tree's location or exposure in the yard?
There is a disease common of Pear trees called fire blight. Please go to this link from Penn State https://extension.psu.edu/pear-disease-fire-blight to learn more about fireblight. Without pictures and more information I really cannot give an intelligent response. Another option is to call a certified arborist to evaluate the tree and/or all the trees on the property to give an assessment. Trees are good is an online resource you can use to find a certified arborist in your area:https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
Let me know if I can answer any other questions and if more info is needed please upload pictures.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-s-that-growing-on-my-tree
Now the issue with the cracking bark and the defoliated lower portion of the canopy.... I would love to see a picture of the tree from a distance, a picture of the crack on the trunk and on the branch, and of the foliage both healthy and unhealthy. It is difficult to comment otherwise. Also needed is how old is the tree? how long has it been declining? any changes to the environment around the tree? Has it been pruned? Fertilized? Any herbicide use? Is the tree mulched? What is the tree's location or exposure in the yard?
There is a disease common of Pear trees called fire blight. Please go to this link from Penn State https://extension.psu.edu/pear-disease-fire-blight to learn more about fireblight. Without pictures and more information I really cannot give an intelligent response. Another option is to call a certified arborist to evaluate the tree and/or all the trees on the property to give an assessment. Trees are good is an online resource you can use to find a certified arborist in your area:https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
Let me know if I can answer any other questions and if more info is needed please upload pictures.
Hello Tracy, 1 of 2
I actually went to the clients house and took several pictures. Upon talking with Mr. Maxwell he stated that all of the fruit trees on his property have been affected.He has 4 fruit trees in his backyard(Red Del. Macintosh and 2 Bartlett Pear Trees. His front yard has 4-5 Ornamental Crabapple Trees). His Macintosh apple tree is where he thinks it all started, about 75 yds away from that is a Red Delicious tree, this tree has yellowing leaves with some spots, the bark is peeling from the branches/trunk, the trunk/branches are splitting as well. There is fruit throughout the whole tree. There are also some dents in the tree. I have added pictures of the Red Delicious. The Ornamental Crabapple trees in his front yard that is approx. 200 yds away from all the other trees, are also showing the same signs. He does have Willow, Popal and Red Maple trees on his property, they are not affected in any way. I will send a separate email with information about the pear trees and pictures.
I actually went to the clients house and took several pictures. Upon talking with Mr. Maxwell he stated that all of the fruit trees on his property have been affected.He has 4 fruit trees in his backyard(Red Del. Macintosh and 2 Bartlett Pear Trees. His front yard has 4-5 Ornamental Crabapple Trees). His Macintosh apple tree is where he thinks it all started, about 75 yds away from that is a Red Delicious tree, this tree has yellowing leaves with some spots, the bark is peeling from the branches/trunk, the trunk/branches are splitting as well. There is fruit throughout the whole tree. There are also some dents in the tree. I have added pictures of the Red Delicious. The Ornamental Crabapple trees in his front yard that is approx. 200 yds away from all the other trees, are also showing the same signs. He does have Willow, Popal and Red Maple trees on his property, they are not affected in any way. I will send a separate email with information about the pear trees and pictures.
2 of 2
So, the pear trees. The pear trees are approx. 10 yards away from the Red Delicious tree and approx 5 yards apart from each other. The lower branches all look dead. There is fruit in the upper branches. Most of the leaves have dark spots on them, almost like black tar spot. The limbs/trunk also have the peeling bark. See pictures below.
I asked him several questions that pertain to all of the trees. The trees are all about 10-12 years old, bought from the same nursery. Rain water is the only water they get, there is no mulch, has never used any herbicides, only prunes out the dead limbs in the fall, all the trees get plenty of sunlight, no change in environment.
I think I have provided all the information I have. I hope that you are understanding my messages to you. If you have any other questions, please let me know.<personal data hidden> in the Gladwin County MSU Extension Office number or you can email me.
Thank you so much for your time!
So, the pear trees. The pear trees are approx. 10 yards away from the Red Delicious tree and approx 5 yards apart from each other. The lower branches all look dead. There is fruit in the upper branches. Most of the leaves have dark spots on them, almost like black tar spot. The limbs/trunk also have the peeling bark. See pictures below.
I asked him several questions that pertain to all of the trees. The trees are all about 10-12 years old, bought from the same nursery. Rain water is the only water they get, there is no mulch, has never used any herbicides, only prunes out the dead limbs in the fall, all the trees get plenty of sunlight, no change in environment.
I think I have provided all the information I have. I hope that you are understanding my messages to you. If you have any other questions, please let me know.<personal data hidden> in the Gladwin County MSU Extension Office number or you can email me.
Thank you so much for your time!
Thank you for the pictures. It seems the trees have a few things going on. Even with the pictures you supplied unfortunately it is not enough to make a determination. It would be a good idea to have an arborist do an assessment. If the client does not want to go that route then submitting samples of the foliage, twigs and bark to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics Lab is advised. Instructions and fee schedule is available at this link: https://pestid.msu.edu/submit-samples/
The weather this spring and summer has provided perfect conditions for fungus to be a big problem.
The common diseases that affect apple and pear trees are fire blight, Fabreae leaf spot and scab. The management is the same for all: good sanitation and pruning practices. Here is a link to read more: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cultural-and-environmental-apples-and-pears
A certified arborist will be able to determine a treatment plan OR results from the MSU Diagnostic lab with enable the client to know what to apply to correct or treat the disease.
Fruit trees are susceptible to bark cracking as the bark is thin. Bark cracking can occur for a variety of reasons such as drought stress and temperature fluctuations in the winter. Read more at this link: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/barksplitting.pdf
Best wishes!
The weather this spring and summer has provided perfect conditions for fungus to be a big problem.
The common diseases that affect apple and pear trees are fire blight, Fabreae leaf spot and scab. The management is the same for all: good sanitation and pruning practices. Here is a link to read more: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cultural-and-environmental-apples-and-pears
A certified arborist will be able to determine a treatment plan OR results from the MSU Diagnostic lab with enable the client to know what to apply to correct or treat the disease.
Fruit trees are susceptible to bark cracking as the bark is thin. Bark cracking can occur for a variety of reasons such as drought stress and temperature fluctuations in the winter. Read more at this link: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/barksplitting.pdf
Best wishes!
