How to Care For Your Pear Tree

Aside from pruning, pear trees require little attention. They do not like to be short of water though. The best strategy is to apply a mulch in mid-Spring of well-rotted compost around but at least 15cm (6in) away from the main trunk.

Pear Midges (see pest and disease below) are often a problem. The cure is rake the surface of the soil regularly in from late winter to early spring. This will expose and kill the midges before they get a chance to fly up into the tree.

HOW TO STORE PEARS

Pears don't store very well but some varieties are OK if kept for two or three weeks (see previous page on varieties). Store pears in a cool area (approximately 6°C / 43°F) which doesn't suffer from large temperature changes. Lay them on a slatted surface and don't have more than one layer. Only store perfect specimens and check them out every couple of days. If any show signs of deteriorating then remove them immediately. A moist but not damp atmosphere is best.

PEST AND DISEASES

Pears are reasonably healthy fruit trees but do occasionally suffer from pest or disease the main ones are outlined below.

Aphids - these may attack new growth especially in early summer. The aphids can often be seen. They cause new shoots to curl and there is often a sticky fluid over new growth. Click here for more information and how to treat this pest.

Scab - this fungal disease can be identified by brown scab like marks on the fruit and often black marks on the leaves. Click here for details on how to treat this disease.

Canker - the symptoms are deformed patches of bark which becomes cracked and bends inwards. Click here for details on how to treat canker.

Caterpillars - these seem to find the leaves of pear trees particularly tasty. The best treatment is to simply pick them off by hand as soon as they are noticed. If you notice any moth cocoons them pick those off as well because they are housing caterpillars.

Pear Midge - the signs of pear midge are young fruit which does not develop properly and becomes black before falling to the ground. Destroy all the infected fruit. In spring cultivate the soil around the tree to expose the over-wintering midges to the cold and wild life. A mulch of black plastic over the soil around the tree will also prevent the midges entering the tree in Spring.

Fireblight - the signs are new growth turning brown and a sticky liquid appearing around affected areas in Spring. Seek advice from your local garden centre if you suspect fireblight because this disease should be notified to the agricultural authorities.

END OF ARTICLE

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