I just wanted to inform people that I had my pear tree problem resolved by sending an inquiry including the photos I had attached above. From the report back it looks like Mark was correct. You can read what the center emailed me and below that see the form I had to fill out to get their opinion. They also sent a link for me to read. I did inform Mark that it looks like what he stated above was correct. Lou Hi Lou, Bad news. It really looks like your tree had fire blight. It's not good. See http://fpath.cas.psu.edu/Fruit_facts/Apple/FBAP.html for more info and management. I think your tree variety is one of the Clapp's. It's listed as suseptible to Fire Blight. There are pears that are less suseptable but none are immune (that I know of). FYI, the easiest tree fruit to grow is probably a disease resistant apple (Liberty is one variety, there are several others). You will still have to spray to control insects but as least disease/fungus should not be a problem. Thanks for the photos, they help a lot. Good luck with your tree. Jean -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: pezzuti@verizon.net [mailto:pezzuti@verizon.net] Sent: Fri 6/19/2009 7:55 PM To: Lehigh MG Subject: Plant Problem Form Submission Plant Problem Submitted: 6/19/2009 7:55:13 PM Contact Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Lou Pezzuti Address: 139 Todd Lane PA 18235 County: Carbon Phone: E-Mail: pezzuti@verizon.net Plant Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Plant: young grafted pear tree Variety: Clapps Problem: Mewlwy formed leaves are discoloring. Tips ofa few of the leaves turn black and some curl. trunk does not seem to be effected. Tree is very small yet. Symptoms appeared: After leaves appeared on the tree Occured before?: No Plant part affected: Leaves Symptoms ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Yellowing: Browning: Interveinal Wilting Other: I can provide a photo taken just a few days ago. Lots of rain this spring Type of Planting ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Yard Problem Area ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunny Soil Type ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Clay Soil Moisture ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Terrain ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sloped Drainage ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Size of Planting ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Acres: Sq Ft: # of Plants: 1 Extent of Problem ----------------------------------------------------------------------- % of plants affected: # of plants affected: 1 Trees/Shrubs ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Approximate Age: 3 feet Height: How long in present location?: 2nd season Chemicals Applied This Season & Previous Season ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Fertilizer: Early spring table spoon 5/10/10 sprinkled around drip line. Fungicide: Told to use copper dusting-did so. Insecticide: 3 in 1 garden control Herbicide: Nematicide: Disturbances ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Turf-grass ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Comments ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I added these things mentiond above and also sprayed with Sevin and also added Epson Salts-1 tblspoon to gallon of water. I have a photo stored on photobucket.com. I am going to see if I can paste the address here to see if you can see the two photos of same tree. Thank you for your time Lou Pezzuti. http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k215/pezzuti9/?action=view&current=Sicktree2.jpg http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k215/pezzuti9/?action=view&current=Sicktree3.jpg

Sounds like you've lost the scion, and only the stock is growing. I ordered a small one through the mail awhile ago and it blighted off right after leafing out. While there are some examples that have been establishing in landscapes here (and I have seen the cultivar loaded with fruit while still in pots at a garden center) I have seen others with dieback problems. So you may have had bad luck and had yours get heavily infested and die or die back right after planting. Stone fruits in general are susceptible to multiple diseases and pests that may appear and spoil a planting. The general condition is for them to be fast-growing, short-lived trees that flower heavily from a young age and then die early. The normal habitat for the wild species is open, sunny recently disturbed or otherwise non-forested sites where they pop up early in the game and then die out as other trees come in and start to produce a different growing environment, with increased shade and decreased exposure.

I do see what looks like little black ants crawling up the tree, and back down but they are never on the leaves. no more than 3 or 4 at a time. I am assuming they are ants, because I did have a black ant problem in my house a few years back, next to my sink and kitchen window. I do see a large bug on the leaves every so but never more one at a time. Are spiders harmful to the trees? I constantly have spiders in them. making webs until I water them or it rains. The soil is a little dry on the top but it is fairly most when I stick my finger in it. The temps have been fairly cool here for this time of the year in the low 70âÂÂs to upper 70âÂÂs. It is starting to warm up. I know in the summer that cement will get very hot as will the weather but it also rains here almost every day in the summer with an afternoon shower. And cools it down a good bit. I will check out the root ball and trim the dead parts of the tree and get rid of tags and do the spray you recommend. I have bug guy coming to look at my property this weekend to help with my recent flea problems and prep for termite season. Maybe that will help get rid of any pest I am not seeing. Any other tips or suggesting for dealing with potted citrus

Oh me, oh my; I am so confused! :>) A hint that will help us help you -- when you post about a certain question, always continue on the original post. Right now, you have 3 going for the same topic. I posted what I think are the answers elsewhere, namely http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg0917423132724.html?2 Here is a link that might be useful: answers for you