Why does a pear tree dry out? Control methods and prevention

When a pear tree begins to dry out, it means the young tree is affected by disease or pests. In this situation, it's important to pay attention to key factors: how the fruit begins to dry out, which branches are drying out, and what the pears look like. This information will help identify the real cause of the disease, select a treatment, and determine preventative measures.

What are the reasons for drying out?

Gardeners often find it difficult to pinpoint a single cause for shoots drying up or foliage turning brown and wilted. Typically, there's more than one reason. The problem is that even the fruit crops growing in the garden can react differently to soil composition, weather, and other factors.

Problems of care and planting

Drying may be caused by improper placement of the seedling in the hole during planting, resulting in exposed rhizome collar. Alternatively, the hole may not be the right size for the rhizome. This may include:

• wrong location (too much or, on the contrary, not enough sun);
• areas with high groundwater flow;
• lack of drainage layer.

Before planting a pear tree in your garden, it's important to remember that it doesn't do well with all crops. Avoid planting it near willow, elderberry, walnut, or hornbeam.

Problems with the root system

The transition between the stem and rhizome is often mistaken for the grafting site. This area should visibly disappear beneath the soil, but not be buried too deeply. Sometimes, persistently low air temperatures cause the top of the rhizome to emerge above ground.

This can be fixed by:

• covering the rhizome with soil;
• by covering the damaged areas with a clay-manure mixture.

Unsuitable weather conditions

During prolonged rainfall, the rhizomes become oversaturated with water, but oxygen is insufficient. Gradually, they begin to rot and die. Water deficiency also leads to the gradual drying out of the pear tree. Another cause is the return of night frosts during flowering.

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The pear tree isn't particularly frost-resistant—even in the first days of winter, the rhizome can freeze. This can be prevented by covering the soil around the rhizome with a thick layer of mulch:

• spruce branches;
• agrofibre.

Parasites and diseases

There are many parasites and diseases that can damage pear trees, stunt their development, and negatively impact fruiting. In advanced stages, the plant can dry out. Pear trees can dry out due to conditions such as:

1. Scab.
2. Powdery mildew.
3. Black spotted foliage.
4. Cytosporosis.
5. Moniliosis infection.
6. Brown spot.

Small-sized diseases cause the fruits to become bland and dry. Scab can attack the shoots, causing numerous grayish-green spots to appear. Sometimes the branch becomes covered in wounds that gradually increase in size, ultimately leading to:

• dries;
• dies.

When affected, fruits begin to blacken, become covered with velvety spots that harden and crack. The fallen leaves serve as breeding grounds for fungi.

Moles are very destructive. You can spot them by the holes they leave under your feet when walking in the garden. Watering with a hose can easily wash away the soil around the roots. A special "noise maker," available at the store, can repel the pests.

Why is the top drying out?

Top dieback typically occurs in spring, but can also occur in July and August. The problem occurs annually. Young trees may wither after three years, while mature specimens experience reduced yields. The following factors can cause top dieback:

1. Agricultural technology issues. This is especially true during planting and care. Drying of the top of the tree is usually caused by nearby groundwater flow. The roots of a young tree come into contact with water, rot, and die. The top of the tree dries out. If a young fruit tree sapling is planted correctly, the top will dry out first. This helps identify a cause unrelated to planting.
2. Agrochemical problems include nutrition, diseases, and parasites. In August, the tips of new branches on a young tree begin to dry out. If you look closely at the shoots, you can see where the woodworm has penetrated—the cause of the drying out. If the branch tips are drying out, it means they are being destroyed by the oriental codling moth.

You need to cut out the dried-out part of the top. This will restore the balance between the rhizome and the crown. If the groundwater table is close, you'll need to replant the seedling higher up or install good drainage.

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Why do individual branches dry out?

There are several reasons why pear tree branches may dry out. It's important to consider when the problem first appears. If branches begin drying out in the spring, it's a sign of fire blight. Symptoms begin on buds and flowers, then progress to:

• foliage;
• branches.

Treatment is essential.

This isn't a disease, but rather a consequence of high humidity or temperature conditions. It's necessary to create protection against these negative factors.

Another cause is frostbite. Frost cracks can destroy even strong branches. Therefore, it's important to insulate the plant before winter. Pear branches also dry out due to bark damage or parasites. Treatment with Aktara helps against insects.

Drying out of the main trunk

The stem, the main organ of this plant, can dry out for several reasons. These include: low winter temperatures, incorrect nitrogen application during fertilization, parasites, fungi, UV rays, physical deformation, and rat attacks.

A number of agricultural measures have been developed to revive a limp plant trunk. To do this, select a good gardening tool and restore the bark to its normal condition:

1. If there are microcracks, clean the dry trunk of both three-year-old trees and older specimens in the spring using a knife wiped with an antiseptic.
2. You can make grooves by cutting it 2 mm thick with a knife.
3. You can whitewash the trunk part.
4. You can protect the trunk from freezing temperatures by wrapping it in newspaper.
5. The plant needs to be sprayed with copper sulfate.

Fungicides can be used for treatment.

Why might young plants dry out?

There are many different diseases that can affect young pear trees. If you don't intervene and treat the disease promptly, there's a risk of bloom failure, and the entire orchard may become infected. It's important to monitor the plant's condition closely and treat only after accurately identifying the disease. If plants are affected by fire blight, they are less than 10 years old. Older plants may not be affected. This is because the new shoots of pear trees:

• very tender;
• they are characterized by active movement of juice;
• the immune system is still weakened.

However, there are certain cultivars that are highly resistant to various diseases. Therefore, certain plants are not susceptible to disease. One of the main causes of foliage browning is humidity. If the air is too dry, the foliage begins to brown even on pear trees that are properly watered. To solve the problem, heavy watering is not enough, so additional spraying of foliage is necessary.

It's essential to immediately perform a thorough pruning to eliminate all symptoms of the disease. Only disinfected tools and antiseptics should be used for this purpose. Knowing the basic techniques for combating pear dryness is helpful for both beginners and seasoned gardeners.

Measures against drying out

When a pear tree dries out, you can find out what to do from the information below. First, you need to determine the exact cause of the drying out. Naturally, this depends on how feasible it is. If this cannot be determined, then each of the above points should be checked.

Chemical treatment

Chemical treatment is possible if fungi are present on the pear tree or insects are detected. The problem is most easily overcome with preventative measures, such as spraying. Copper-containing preparations or fungicides are used for therapeutic treatments. Antibacterial agents are among the most effective. Insecticides are also effective against parasites:

1. Bi-58.
2. Decis Profi.
3. Tetrix.
4. Aktara.

The solution is prepared only according to the instructions, and then the pear tree is treated. Several secondary treatments may be required to eliminate the problem. It is important to closely monitor the condition of the plants. Chemicals should not be used after flowering has ceased.

The damaged parts are removed. Instruments must be disinfected before and after work.

Unconventional methods

Wood ash is a popular alternative remedy. It both nourishes and protects against pests. It's used as an infusion for wet treatments, while dry ash is sprinkled on branches and the area around the trunk. Garlic or onion infusions are effective against spider mites, aphids, and for fungal prevention. Diluted baking soda is used much less frequently, but it can be used at the first signs of powdery mildew or fungal growth on foliage. Infusions of the following are also effective:

1. Autumn walnut leaves.
2. Tobacco.
3. Wormwood.

All these drugs are preventative and help fight harmful insects.

Treatment of pear drying with biopreparations

Unique biological products have become available today. One treatment is not enough. Biological products are often unstable and quickly decompose under the influence of sunlight. The Fitoverm series is excellent for killing parasites. This series also includes:

1. Actofit.
2. Iskra-bio.
3. Agravertin.

For preventative purposes against fungal infections, use:

1. Gamair.
2. Alirin-B.
3. Planriz.
4. Fitosporin-M.

Baktorodencide helps against mice.

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List of effective agricultural measures

Farmers actively influence the ecosystem by inhibiting the development of dangerous microscopic organisms and parasites. To protect pear trees from fungi, microbacteria, aphids, larvae, and other pests, the soil must be regularly tilled. Timely application of minerals helps strengthen the immune system of fruit and berry plants, increasing their resistance to damage and negative external influences. Osmotic pressure of the cell sap in the branches increases, preventing blood-sucking insects from feeding on the plants.

It's important to regularly remove weeds from plantings, as this is where many pests thrive. Dead bark should also be removed from branches and the crown of the plant should be regularly removed.

How to restore a rotted pear tree and preventative measures

When winter ends, the rhizome may die. This usually causes the plant to rot. Not all gardeners know how to properly restore plants after wintering before flowering. Resuscitation can be achieved by cleaning the damaged areas of the rhizome, disinfecting with a 1% copper sulfate solution, and applying a garden putty to the roots.

It's important to take preventative measures. Recommendations are as follows:

1. Buy only healthy seedlings from reliable nurseries.
2. After each pruning, thoroughly clean the instruments.
3. Collect leaves and fallen pears in a timely manner.
4. When the weather gets warmer, clean and whiten the trunks of the plant crop.

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Twice a year (April and September), trees should be treated with Bordeaux mixture or other commercially available products. Regularly inspect the plants to detect problems early.

Recommendations from professionals

Gardeners with some experience growing fruit plants report that it's possible to prevent a plant from dying from drying out by following these tips. These are:

1. Destroy fallen leaves in a timely manner.
2. Trim the dense crown after the flowering ends and the fruit sets.
3. Treat the rhizome.
4. Spray the plantings using colloidal sulfur.

It is necessary to plant varieties that are suitable for cultivation in a specific region, those that can survive not only the summer heat, but also the frosts in winter.

A pear tree can begin to dry out for a variety of reasons. But by correctly identifying the symptoms, it's possible to revive the plant. By following professional recommendations, it's possible to prevent this problem altogether.