Bradford Pear Fire Blight: Identification and Pruning Protocol

Case Profile

15 Cleveland pears, 2 yrs planted, 6 ft from driveway (PA). Localized branch dieback (brown/wilted leaves), not whole tree. Neighboring pears similar.

Fire Blight Symptoms

• Branch tips: dark brown/black, scorched appearance (like blowtorch).
• Random/scattered in canopy.
• Spreads inward toward trunk (especially spring rain).
• Caused by bacterium Erwinia amylovora.

Pruning Protocol (If Fire Blight Confirmed)

1. Timing: Dry weather only.
2. Cut: 6–8 inches into green wood below visible damage.
3. Sanitize: Rubbing alcohol on pruners between every cut (1–2 min soak).
4. Destroy: Burn/bag pruned material.

Disease Cycle

• Spring: bacteria on flowers (bee-vectored).
• Splashing water/wind spreads.
• Cultivar susceptibility varies.

Chemical Control (Limited for Homeowners)

• Antibiotic sprays (streptomycin) — precise bloom timing, full coverage, multiple apps.
• Usually impractical for 15 trees.
• Pruning = primary option.

Ornamental Pear Reality Check

Callery pears (Bradford, Cleveland, etc.) have structural weakness (narrow crotches) + fire blight susceptibility + graft incompatibility decline. Many communities now restrict planting.

Google fire blight images. Match? Prune aggressively. No match? Could be graft decline—monitor.