I life in western SD, east edge of the Black hills. I have been having problems with fire blight over the past 4-5 years. I have lost 2 of my 3 pear tree. Struggling with the last to save it, dont really know what variety it is, pears are medium in size, w/ thicker skins. but very sweet and juicy. Does any one have a type of spray that works to keep this blight away. I must assume that something must be out there.
thank tom iverson
Dusting the tree with Bordeaux or Copper Sulphate (Powdered Bluestone) might help.
Spraying Streptomycin might help also.
Some of the old timers in my part of the country will wrap the branches of susceptible trees with copper wire so that every time it rains, green streaks will coat the bark. They say this helps to prevent blight. I've never done it, so I don't know for sure. Some others will nail little copper tacks into the bark all over the tree. I'm presuming this is for the same purpose.
Side branches that have blight on them should be removed as soon as possible and the wound coated with a sealing compound with Bordeaux or Copper Sulphate mixed in it. You will have to mix this yourself. The branch should be burned before the next rain. The tool(s) that you used to cut the branch should be sterilized in chlorine.
Hope some of this helps.
-Nick
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