Pear Tree Help!!

ROYCE

ROYCE

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Vermont
I have a customer who has a pear tree that all the leaves have just fallen off. The tree is located in southern NH. This is not a flowering pear, but a regular pear tree. Large in size. 14" stem, 25 feet tall. Nothing in the area of the roots have changed. Tree was okay last year, had a few dead limbs. It was scheduled to get pruned this year. I went out a week ago and it lost half it's leaves. Just got a call that now it has completely lost all the leaves. Anyone know what this could be from? I know pears can get a fungus and can also get fire blight. This does not look like fireblight. the leaves did not curl up and stay on the tree. They just turned brown and fell off. The leaves that were on the ground were slightly purple color.
I will take some pictures tomorrow. This guy loves this tree and really wants to try and save it. I want to be able to help him.
I have applied a roots product injection to it into the soil last year and this year. It was what the previous owner of the tree service that I bought did. I inherited this contract and it's practices. This guy wanted this injected every year. That is what they arrangement was between him and the previous owner.
Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if it was anthracnose. We have a ton of it going on down here and with the long winter and cool spring and summer you have had, that would be my best guess. Hopefully KT will weigh in for you. I' m sure he will have better insight than I. Good luck in the diagnosis.
 
With photos, try to show leaves with both green and necrotic parts. Anthracnose is a good bet. I suppose we can rule out fireblight? That is very distinctive.
 
guymayor said:
What does the soil look or smell or test like? You might want to disinherit or improve the soil practices.
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Guy, I will take a look at that. what are you thinking? Air spade to aerate the soil and add some compost to mix in?
 
Here she is: Let me know your thoughts
 

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So, this thing was completely covered in leaves about three weeks ago. Weird. Also, that side walk you see. It's been there for 100 years. Side walk came first, then the tree. This site has not been disturbed in any way. I feel it could be slightly compacted, but composted soil wouldn't do this so quick. More of a slow death.
 
guymayor said:
Defoliation ain't death. I'm guessing twigs are still green.

TL is right; find the flare!
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I'm not sure that is the issue. I mean, I understand that it can be A issue. But the grade has not changed in years. I'm not talking like 10 years ago, like 50 years ago. So, my first priority would be root collar excavation to find the flare? Then what?
I want to develop a plan for this tree to save it. This guy is really attached to this tree. He wants it to survive. I want to come to him with a plan in place to help save this tree. I first need to figure out why the leaves have dropped. I will say, it is dry around here, not much rain, and a lot off hot days. Drought issue?
Guy, you say a defoliation isn't death. I agree, the first thing I did was break the ends of the twigs and see of they were still green, they are. But, how long could you go with no food. This tree needs leaves!!
 
We just did a live oak excavation today Royce. Nothing special, just with shovels, rakes, and manpower...and a skidsteer to move dirt around. I did blow what compressed air I had left in my pancake air compressor on it but just as a final cleaup. This tree really hasn't shown any signs of decline yet so my guess is it hasn't been like this for long. But they can sure go into a state of decline from it.
Here's after the excavation. You can see how bad it was buried. The roots you see are from smilax, which have horrible potato-like rhizomes, and they can create a mass of sh!t underground.

RootCrownExcavation.webp
 
TreeLogic, that thing was buried. I think you got to it in tome before it could really decline. I have some experience with root collar excavation. I have access to a air-knife, I rent a compressor. I just wasn't thinking that this could be the cause of such a sudden leaf loss on this tree. Either way, the pear tree will definitely benefit from it.
So, the homeowner told me that money is not an issue. He is a pretty wealthy guy, he really trusts me. I have done some really nice work for him. I really don't want to sell him on air-spading to find out the tree will die next year because I missed a bigger issue in regards to a fungus infection or something more serious.
Your right though, there is no flare.
 

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ROYCE said:
I first need to figure out why the leaves have dropped. I will say, it is dry around here, not much rain, and a lot off hot days. Drought issue?
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If the leaves evaporate (transpire) more water than the roots can take up, there comes a tipping point where the tree will drop its leaves. I believe this to be the case anyway. If the roots are struggling due to being buried, their uptake will be inhibited and drought will take a greater toll. A lot of things can bury a root crown without the owner even knowing it. Ant beds, volcano mulch, bad grade (if tree is in a 'bowl' of sorts). No doubt in my mind that is where I would start as far as a plan to save that tree. FWIW...
 
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TreeLogic said:
If the leaves evaporate (transpire) more water that the roots can take up, there comes a tipping point where the tree will drop its leaves. I believe this to be the case anyway. If the roots are struggling due to being buried, their uptake will be inhibited and drought will take a greater toll. A lot of things can bury a root crown without the owner even knowing it. Ant beds, volcano mulch, bad grade (if tree is in a 'bowl' of sorts). No doubt in my mind that is where I would start as far as a plan to save that tree. FWIW...
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It's worth a lot, and that makes sense to me. I guess that is my first place to start. Now, if a tree losses it's leaves because of no water, how long will it go before it dies? I mean, we are kinda close to fall here anyways. Could the tree make it okay until next year? I mean, I want to do this excavation pretty soon. Once it gets out of the 90's here. But, I also don't want to take this guys money and they end up cutting the tree down next year.
 
From what it looks like, as far as the surrounding grade goes, you'll have to be careful not create a well around the trunk when excavating it. Make sure when all is said and done that water flows out and away from the trunk, because it'll just bring sediment back in there if it flows towards the tree. My gut says that tree can snap back, though there is a nasty cavity on one of the leads. A lot of factors come into play when guessing if a tree can survive a leaf drop like that. I'd like to say most can, but species, and remedying the stressors will play a big part, in my experience.

Good luck with it man. I'm sure Guy has done a lot more of these than me and I sincerely hope he'll chime in and correct any misguided info I might have given. All it takes is one good crown excavation, and seeing the great results from it, and you'll be hooked. You'll find yourself talking to the tree saying, "Does that feel good? Yeah, that feels a lot better doesn't it? You're welcome Mr Tree." Well, maybe that's just me. :)
 
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