Fire Blight (Apples & Pears)

Description: : Can cause severe damage to apple and pear trees. Fire blight usually attacks blossoms, but infection and dieback of new shoots is common (see photo). The downward curled twig tip is characteristic of fire blight.

Solution: Cut off infected twigs and branches 12" below the dead area. Disinfect pruning tool between cuts by dipping in 10% solution of liquid bleach to avoid spreading disease.

Control blight by spraying Soap-Shield^® Fungicidal Soap at silver tip and bud break, and repeat at 3-5 day intervals as needed, up to petal fall. Use at the rate of 1 oz. per gallon if disease pressure is light, 2 ozs. per gallon if disease conditions favor heavy disease pressure. Note: Soap-Shield, as used in this recommendation, may cause russetting of Golden Delicious and similar susceptible varieties.

Fire blight can also be controlled by applying Fire Blight Spray every 3-4 days during bloom time, and then at 5-7 day intervals. (We prefer Soap-Shield because, in addition to fire blight, it controls a wide range of fruit tree diseases.) To control sucking insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and plant bugs, which spread fire blight, use Pyola^TM Insecticidal Spray every 10 days from time leaf tips appear until petal fall, then every 14 days.