Homeowners should question the nursery owner about the susceptibility of a specimen before using it in the landscape. Resistant species for firethorn include Pyracantha cenulata , P. coccinea lalandii and P. fortuneana . For cotoneaster, Cotoneaster adapressa , C. dammeri , C. pannosa , C. horizontalis and C. microphylla are resistant. Many of the new cultivars of crabapple also are resistant to fire blight. These cultivars should be avoided in areas where fire blight is endemic.
Plant nutrition can be important in fire blight treatment.
Avoid stimulation of succulent growth in spring by making only a light application of nitrogen. Generally, fertilizer that is applied to the lawn will provide sufficient nutrition for most woody ornamentals in the landscape. Copper-based fungicides and the antibiotic, streptomycin, are somewhat effective in controlling fire blight. Application of the coppers at green tip stage helps reduce inoculum produced in carryover cankers on branches. Control of blossom blight is done by spraying with streptomycin during flowering.