- The most common fungal diseases of the pear tree
- Pear rust - often but rarely dramatic
- Monilia fruit rot - moldy fruits on the tree
- Tree canker leads to the death of the tree
- Scab affects leaves, bark and fruit
- tips and tricks
Pear trees are susceptible to various fungal diseases. The fungus spreads on the tree, damaging the bark, leaves and fruits. Which types of fungus threaten the pear tree and what can the gardener do about it?
The most common fungal diseases of the pear tree
- Pear rust (rust fungus)
- Monilia fruit rot
- tree cancer
- scab
Pear rust - often but rarely dramatic
Almost every owner of a pear tree has had to deal with pear rust at some point. This is a fungus that overwinters in juniper bushes.
The infestation can be recognized by the orange and yellow spots on the leaves of the tree.
There are currently no effective fungicides against pear rust. Remove any affected leaves. Make sure there are no juniper bushes near your pear tree.
Monilia fruit rot - moldy fruits on the tree
If brown mold appears on the fruit on the tree, Monilia fruit rot is to blame. The pears begin to rot and fall off. The spores contained in the white coating spread over the healthy fruits.
Any affected fruit must be picked and discarded. Pears that have fallen down are carefully collected. If the shoot tips of the tree are also affected, they must be pruned generously.
Tree canker leads to the death of the tree
Orange and brown spots on the bark and branches of the pear tree indicate tree canker. The bark tears open or thickens as a result of the fungal infestation.
In the case of large trees, all affected areas are generously cut out. You should remove small pear trees completely right away, they usually cannot be saved.
Scab affects leaves, bark and fruit
Scab can be recognized by the fact that round, shimmering circles form on the leaves. The leaves fall off after a while. The fungus can also appear on bark and fruit.
Spray the tree with a decoction of one kilogram of birch leaves in ten liters of water. Sometimes only spraying fungicides helps.
tips and tricks
If there are birch trees near your garden, collect the foliage in the fall. Sprinkle it on the tree disc instead of compost. It rots there and supplies the soil with nutrients. The ingredients of birch leaves reduce the risk of fungal attack on the pear tree.