Pear and Peach Tree Diseases - Ask Extension
Hi there, I live in Fort Collins, Colorado. I want to plant either pear or peach trees in my yard, but I'm worried about diseases and pests. Would you...
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Pear and Peach Tree Diseases #864922
Asked April 17, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT
Hi there,
I live in Fort Collins, Colorado. I want to plant either pear or peach trees in my yard, but I'm worried about diseases and pests. Would you recommend peach or pear trees in my area, if I'm looking to avoid pests and disease? Many years ago I planted an apple tree, and it seemed to need regular spraying to avoid pests. Do pear and peach trees also need regular spraying, or is one of them better adapted to our area?
Thanks so much for your advice!
Becca
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Becca,
Of the two, pear will have more reliable fruit. With our inconsistent spring weather, peach may fruit every 4-5 years, but not consistently. Pear tends to bloom a little later and fruit is more consistent.
The most reliable fruit trees are apples and plums. With fruit trees, the most important steps are to plant the tree correctly (make sure the graft union is above the ground and the first roots are at the soil grade), keep them well-watered year-round (they should never be subjected to any drought), and prune regularly.
Most fruit gets insects, so a spray program can be beneficial. There are both organic and synthetic sprays available.
We see cytospora canker on peach trees, which can be a killing organism. I see far more disease pressure on peach than apples or pears. All fruits are subject to fire blight, a bacterial disease.
The selection of the root stock against disease is very important, plus the cultural factors mentioned above. But you can have successful fruit crops in northern Colorado.
Back in 2022, my coworker did two lectures on fruit trees - one is general care and the other focuses on pruning:
Of the two, pear will have more reliable fruit. With our inconsistent spring weather, peach may fruit every 4-5 years, but not consistently. Pear tends to bloom a little later and fruit is more consistent.
The most reliable fruit trees are apples and plums. With fruit trees, the most important steps are to plant the tree correctly (make sure the graft union is above the ground and the first roots are at the soil grade), keep them well-watered year-round (they should never be subjected to any drought), and prune regularly.
Most fruit gets insects, so a spray program can be beneficial. There are both organic and synthetic sprays available.
We see cytospora canker on peach trees, which can be a killing organism. I see far more disease pressure on peach than apples or pears. All fruits are subject to fire blight, a bacterial disease.
The selection of the root stock against disease is very important, plus the cultural factors mentioned above. But you can have successful fruit crops in northern Colorado.
Back in 2022, my coworker did two lectures on fruit trees - one is general care and the other focuses on pruning:
General Fruit Trees Webinar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kyjoeiCqr4
Fruit Tree Pruning Webinar – https://youtu.be/mloE8dYRhcs
