Applications of pesticides should be made where wind speeds are calm, usually at dawn or dusk, to avoid drift onto neighbouring plants. Fireblight has been showing up in scattered regions across the province. The warm, wet weather we experienced over the last couple of weeks has prompted this bacterial disease to infect species of apple, pear, serviceberry, firethorn, mountain-ash and other pome fruits. Fireblight can infect the flowers, fruit and succulent spring growth of these trees. Infection causes rapid tissue collapse and browning of shoots.
Leaves persist on the killed shoot.
Prune out infected shoots about 30 cm below the affected area during DRY weather. Disinfect pruning knife between each cut. Destroy material as soon as possible. Avoid nitrogen fertilizers since they encourage succulent growth. Agri-Mycin and Copper spray are effective at protecting new foliage during leaf emergence in early spring.