A combination of practices is needed to reduce the severity of the disease. Choose the proper cultivars. Commercial growers should select rootstocks that are less susceptible to fire blight. Bartlett pears are extremely susceptible to fire blight and are not recommended for planting in Illinois. Select planting sites with good soil drainage.
Trees are more susceptible to fire blight in poorly drained sites than in well-drained ones.
Tree productivity will also be lower on such sites. Drainage can often be improved by tiling. Follow proper pruning and fertilization practices. Fertilization and pruning practices on susceptible cultivars should be adjusted to limit excessive growth. If the growth is more than 12 inches, do not apply fertilizer until shoot growth is reduced to less than 6 inches.