Fireblight
Disease A bacterial disease that scorches blossom and shoots on pears, apples and quinces.
What to look for
Blossom and young shoots wilt and turn brown as if burned, with shoot tips bent into a "shepherd's crook". Orange-brown ooze may appear on the bark.
When: May to August.
How to prevent it
- Avoid excess nitrogen, which produces soft growth.
- Choose less susceptible varieties.
- Clean tools after pruning.
How to deal with it
- Cut out infected shoots at least 60 cm below the visible symptoms and burn them.
- Disinfect tools between cuts.
- If a whole tree is affected, remove it.
Crops it affects
If you choose to use any treatment, use only products approved for UK home gardens, follow the label and avoid spraying open flowers. See all pests and diseases.