Got Nature? Blog

Fire blight infects ornamental fruit trees such as this callery pear, a popular landscape tree. Symptoms include cankers on branches, wilted shoots and blacked leaves, which give trees a “scorched” appearance. Homeowners can get reputable advice or service from an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist. A directory of certified arborists is available on the Indiana Arborist Association website or contact the IAA office at (765) 494-3625.

Before pruning a tree themselves, homeowners should review steps outlined in Fruit Diseases: Fire Blight on Fruit Trees in the Home Orchard, a free download available through Purdue Extension authored by Dr. Janna Beckerman with the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. Improper pruning can further damage trees or spread the disease. For other Purdue Extension publications, visit The Education Store.