When you see a diseased Fire Blight apple tree, it is very unmistakable. The leaves on the trees curl up and turn black from the point of infection outward. Fire blight starts at one branch or location on a tree, and can quickly spread throughout the entire tree causing its death.
Merely touching a Fire Blight-infected branch can cause the disease to spread. Fire blight is a bacterial infection that cannot travel more than 50 feet from its source on its own, but it will find a way to get wherever it needs to go by hitching a ride with people and animals. Fire Blight-infected branches are easy to spot because they turn black from the tip of the branch inward. Fire Blight leaves can look very similar to dead leaves, but once you break them open, Fire Blight has a unique smell and is quite different in appearance from healthy leaves.
Pruning your apple tree in the fall after harvest is an important step against Fire Blight infection. Pruning will help prevent Fire Blight from spreading further into the tree. Fire blight spores are present on dead leaves and branches throughout the winter, so it is very important to dispose of them properly. Do not compost Fire Blight-infected branches if you plan on using the compost this year or next year. Fire Blight can stay dormant in the soil for up to three years. Fire Blight spores can survive in the soil for one year, and when Fire Blight-infected branches are added to the ground, Fire Blight will spread throughout the whole tree.
If you cannot remove leaves and limbs yourself, contact a local arborist for professional Fire Blight treatment. Fire Blight is a very treatable disease as long as you catch it early. Fire Blight can be prevented from spreading by sterilizing all tools before and after the treatment.
Using copper fungicides after pruning will also help to stop Fire Blight. It can be treated by spraying copper compounds directly to the infected parts of trees, but this is very difficult and time consuming if large sections of a tree are infected. Fire Blight treatment is most effective when all Fire Blight limbs are removed from the canopy before new foliage emerges in spring. By removing infected limbs, you prevent Fire Blight from getting into the rest of your orchard.
If all Fire Blight hasn’t been eliminated by Fire Blight treatment, repeat it in spring after trees leaf out to get rid of any remaining Fire Blight. Fire blight is very hard to control once its begun, so the treatment must be done at the right times for it to work. Fire blight can also spread through water sprouts. When you see an infected branch, simply cut away from the tree. Fire blight treatment for whole trees is much more difficult, and can require several rounds of removal before Fire Blight has been completely eliminated.
Once Fire Blight infection occurs, many large sections of your tree may have to be removed because it is so hard to get rid of once it’s begun. Fire Blight treatment is a long and tedious process that requires great patience, but Fire Blight can be defeated with treatment if you catch it early. Fire blight can spread from your apple trees to your other fruit trees if they are wild, making treatment an important step to reduce the spread. Fire Blight removal is a very difficult task, but the treatment will protect you from losing your whole orchard to infection.
Using copper fungicides after pruning will stop Fire Blight’s growth. If Fire blight has spread to your apple blossoms, treatment is a must. This can be prevented from spreading by removing infected branches and leaves. Fire Blight can live in dormant leaves and branches throughout the winter if they are not removed from the tree. By removing infected limbs, you prevent Fire Blight.
As experts in tree care, we are often asked by our customers if their trees have been infected with fire blight. It is difficult to know for sure without an inspection on site but there are some telltale signs that your tree may be suffering from this devastating disease. If you suspect your tree has the early stages of infection or want a professional opinion before taking any action, contact us today for expert advice! We're happy to help diagnose and treat fire blight safely and effectively.
