What is wrong with my pear tree?

Question

i bought my mum a pear tree 3 years ago, it was in a pot for a year and a half then we moved it into the garden as we were told they dont do well in pots, any way since then the tree looks so sad, dome leaves look fine, however some are turning brown and curling and some have something sticky on them. what could this be?

Answer 1

One of the problems that often come up with newly planted trees is lack of water. It sounds like this is ONE of your problems. If you can not stand there or be there to give the tree a good soaking at least two times a week (three would be better) - here is an easy solution.

If you have one of those plastic garbage cans (if you do not have one, go out and get one). Make sure the inside is clean. Put a small hole in the bottom edge of the plastic “barrel” and fill it with water two or three times a week. The water will drip out slowly and water the tree thoroughly. (A soaker hose would work just as well but must be left on for at least an hour each watering.) The plastic can is good because you can add water soluble fertilizer to the water.

You can also do the same by purchasing a “20 gallon Treegator”, tree watering bag (search the Internet – they may also carry them somewhere locally), which you can use the same way as the bucket but is especially designed for the purpose of slowly and deeply watering a tree.

I would do my best to find out exactly what type of insect, fungus, mold or mildew is attacking the tree. If there is sticky residue there is an insect causing that, which in turn is giving the mildew, etc., a surface to grow on.

Either bring a leaf to your local nursery for a diagnosis OR put a letter, a leaf in a zip-lock bag and enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope - to send to your state collage’s cooperative extension’s horticulture and/or entomology department – you may even call them and ask them how to go about sending in a sample for diagnosis.

I would not treat for disease until I knew what the tree was suffering from BUT WATER is something it surely needs. Good luck. And when you get pears, I’ll send you my address ;-)

Answer 2

the sticky could be a sign of aphids, little wee bugs that suck the plant juices out of the leaves and smaller branches....

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rl...

you can blast them off with a sharp spray with the hose..... be sure to look for them and blast them again in a few days when the eggs have hatched... maybe even again and again.....it may be them that's making the sick leaves.... if the rest of the tree looks good, then just take care of this problem and keep the ground moist so it can get happy in its new home.....

Answer 3

Feeding as mentioned is likely to have been an issue for started whilst the tree had remained in the pot!

However, it sounds like irregular waterign, where the tree has been left too long and has dried up and then it has been soaked this would account for the leaf curl experience an yellow leaves. however the browning and curling may also be related to the sticky substance you referred to. I would need to see it to diagnose but it sounds like you most likely have a case of powedery mildew or along these lines of fungi infections.

These can be easily treated with pest and fungal sprays. try and keep on top of your watering, feed regularly 2-3 weeks during summer months with bone meal and remove affectted plant material.

Happy growing! hope theres a bumper harvest for you next year!