The Ranger wrote:

My pear tree died a very painful and messy death -- so says the nursery I
brought some of the curled leaves and dried twigs to for examination. He
labeled the problem, fire blight. He, unfortunately, was unable to provide
much of anything else in the way of help, though, like aside from removing
the dead tree, how much of the soil should remain behind, how should I go
about preparing the soil for another sapling, how long I should allow the
ground to remain free of any future saplings, etc.

I'd like to plant another bareroot sapling in this area but not at the cost
of the tree.

Any thoughts/ideas?

Many thanks

The Ranger


I don't *think* you have to worry about the soil; fireblight is a bacteria
that is often spread via cut surfaces when pruning, and I think maybe by
flies to the flowers. You should plant a fireblight resistant variety. Be
very careful about sanitaion when you prune; prune when the weather is not
damp, and dip the shears in a bleach solution between every cut.

Remove any fireblight infected growth next time (and burn it) and spray the
tree with a bacteriacide like Consan Triple Action 20 (quaternary
ammonia). I believe it can also be treated with a spraying of agricultural
grade streptomycin.

It might be a good idea to spray healthy trees with Consan during damp
spring weather as a preventative. If you have a Fleet Farm store nearby,
the "Steramine" dairy cleaner and udder wash is the same thing as Consan,
but 1/2 the strength, and it's cheap. I can get you the dilution rates for
spraying to prevent fireblight on apples and blackspot on roses, but I
don't have it handy.

Don't replant with "Bartlett".

Best regards,
Bob