Why are my trees turning brown? It could be Fire Blight.
CAUSE:
Fire blight is caused by a bacterium, Erwinia Amylovora. Over the winter, bacteria hide out in bark lesions on trees and shrubs. When spring arrives with warm, wet weather, the bacteria “come alive” resulting in ooze that comes out of the localized dead areas (cankers). This ooze containing the bacteria is spread by pollinators like birds and bees, as well as by water and humans. In 1-3 weeks, the symptoms of fire blight become apparent.
AFFECTED SPECIES:
The one positive thing about fire blight is that it only affects rosaceous plants, meaning they are members of the rose family.
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The bad news is that family includes more than 70 different types of plants including St. Louis favorites: pear (Bradford pear, Cleveland pear…), apple (crabapples…), rose (knock out roses…), Spirea, mountain ash, and pyracantha (which no one likes anyway).
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SYMPTOMS:
Leaves wilt suddenly, turning brown and black, giving the appearance of having been scorched by fire. (fire blight…get it?) Eventually, the darkened tips will curl over to form a ‘shepherd’s crook’.
The bark is also noticeably discolored in areas where tissue is dying and the wood may split. In these areas where the wood beneath is exposed is where the source of the infection (remember the ooze?) is held.
PREVENTION & CONTROL:
This is a tough one. Click here to go to our website to read more!