pear tree help/diagnosis

last year

I recently moved into an older home (in Washington state) that has established pear & Asian pear trees. This winter I’m noticing the branches are covered in white spots. What is it? Suggestions on how to help the trees?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

last year

That is just lichen. And it is harmless :-)

I am going to assume you have not lived in the PNW long. Lichen grows everywhere here - fences, rocks and boulders, woody trees and shrubs, paved surfaces. Even patio furniture left outside without cover. Recent windstorms have dislodged it from the trees in my surrounding greenbelt and there are chunks of it strewn across my lawn. There is even a 'lichen forest' nearby that is startlingly eerie at this time of year, as the alder and other weed trees are covered with furry lichen that is really only visible now in winter when the trees are out of leaf.

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PRO
The Logician LLC
last year
The moss and lichens growing on the tree pictured are typical of mature fruit trees in your region. My 30-year-old quince tree has even more of such growths and sets a good crop of fruit every year.

Those partial views make me wonder if the trees have been pruned properly.
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This disease has spread and progressed to many of the oldest leaves on my tree. Asian pears seem unaffected. Here are two additional leaves, plucked this morning. I've been following an organic spray schedule, but I wonder if the disease pressure in my area (Raleigh, NC) is too high to rely on sulfur for control. If this is a fungus that can be treated, I'd consider spraying with immunox, as it comes highly recommended on this forum. However, I looked at the label and I don't see approval for use on pears. Only flowering pears are listed on the label. Is immunox actually approved for use or do I need to use something else?
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Amy
Original Author
last year
Thanks for both of your comments. I’m sure the trees haven’t been pruned properly. If you have any suggestions or good resources please send them my way
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Check out a couple of the better independent nurseries/garden centers in your area. Many offer free pruning classes in late winter (right about now) and fruit trees tend to top the list. Or check with your county extension office.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
what is that moss covered monstrosity behind the pear.. lol .. just a dead 6 foot stump??? .. keep us posted on that if it leafs out in spring.. dont get me wrong.. even dead.. it is green art ...

buy a good pruning saw and hand shears .. as with any tool purchase.. GOOD matters.. and its usually only a few bucks difference with quality tools.. HINT.. dont buy them at dollar general.. lol ..

if you give us some pix of the whole tree.. before they leaf out.. we can probably give you some suggestions here .. one tree.. one post.. dont mix them all together ... posts are free so dont worry about that.. and welcome to the forums..

lichens are a good sign.. that you have clean air .. you will see them EVERYWHERE now that you know.. but you will never see them downtown ... in fact .. my plastic mailbox is covered in them.. it amuses me.. as obviously they are not getting anything from the plastc.. except a place to hang out ...

and where you find those.. will will usually also find mosses and other of the lower forms of life ... all indicating a healthy environment .. i spotted this on my wood fence last month ... and i think there is moss in your pix above ..

i need to load the pic from my phone.. i hope i dont forget .. i will do it later ..

one issue.. pruning fruit trees for high production can make really ugly trees .. look in any local orchard .. but who wants ugly trees int eh yard.. so its a balancing act between proper tree pruning.. and production pruning ... start with proper.. then worry about production later .. soooo.. for this season.. lets just do what the tree needs... and we will make recommendations after we see the pix ...

oh i can link to an old post for the moss: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6334676/things-that-grow-on-useless-split-rail-fence#n=18

beauty in and of themselves.. beauty per se ....

ken
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
‘that moss covered monstrosity’ is the pear. It will leaf out. It’s covered in health buds.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
lichens are no issue.. near complete coverage by mosses.. could be a very large problem.. like those parts of the tree are dead.. like the fence at the link i provided above ...

need more pix.. better info.. and location... big city name... i realize deep south location have flora im not familiar with. .. stuff that hangs and grows in trees...

the first pic above is like staring into an mc esher picture.. regardless of flora's opinion.. which i dont question.. im not sure it all the same tree .. i dont understand the many new growth limbs.. with 6 to 8 inch ..what look like dead trunks moss covered whatever they are ...

based on that pic alone.. imo.. its impossible to come to any conclusions...

ken

for e.g.: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=mc+esher+art&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
" lichens are no issue.. near complete coverage by mosses.. could be a very large problem.. like those parts of the tree are dead.. "

Not a problem at all!! In western Washington - where the OP stated they reside - it is just as common to see trees - or at least a portion of them - covered in moss as it is to see them covered in lichen. Most often these will be forest trees, growing where there is minimal direct sunlight and a relatively high level of humidity, but it can also appear on established garden trees, like the OP's pear.

Just like the lichens, the mosses are taking advantage of a desirable growing situation. They are certainly not harmful and do NOT mean the tree is dying!!

There is no doubt the pear has been seriously malpruned over its lifetime and the OP would definitely benefit with pruning classes to learn to correct some obvious defects but the tree is NOT dying as a result of the moss and robust new buds are very visible!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Yes. That moss covered trunk in the background is sprouting a good crop of healthy buds. it is not dead.
PRO
The Logician LLC
last year
The first two responses to this topic were conclusive.

The spurious new growth is typical of heavily pruned fruit trees.

pear tree help/diagnosis

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Amy
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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