Bradford Pear Decline in North Dallas: Fire Blight or Drought Stress?

Neighborhood Bradford Pears Dying — Yours Now Curling, Browning, with White Fuzzy Bugs

Multiple trees died last summer. Yours now shows leaf curl, browning, shrinkage, and mealybugs (white fuzzy bugs) on branches.

Primary Suspect: Drought Stress from Last Year

Bradford pears are short-lived, shallow-rooted, and drought-intolerant. Last year's heat/drought damaged root systems — trees now collapsing.

Secondary: Fire Blight (Bacterial)

• If only branch tips die (shepherd's crook), it's fire blight.
• Streptomycin spray at bud break only — too late now.

Mealybugs = Minor

They're secondary invaders on stressed tissue. Not the primary killer.

Action Plan

• Deep water weekly (1" measured) if no rain.
• Mulch 3" to drip line.
• Check trunk for wounds/cankers — mechanical damage mimics disease.
• Call Texas Forest Service for on-site diagnosis (link in original).

Genetic Variability

Bradfords vary wildly — one tree dies, neighbor thrives. Yours may just be a weak genotype.