I think I might have a sick tree

[JohnT]

Anyone around here have good tree knowledge like health, disease, etc.?

[texkam]

what's the prob?


Also research stuff by Howard Garrett, an expert.

[JohnT]

Five-year-old Bradford Pear is losing its leaves. They've turned brown and are falling. Same thing happened last year, but the tree blossomed this year. Figured I'd run it here before going to the nursery tomorrow.

[debbry531]

I don't really know anything about trees, but I did kill a pear tree not too long ago (okay, I didn't actually kill it, but I had one die on me). Apparently, its roots grew around the trunk and basically starved the tree. Does is look like there is a healthy root system? If that is the problem, there are some things an arborist can do if it's not too advanced (mine had to come down though).

[texkam]

Hard to diagnose here. Could be not enough or too much water, poor soil, etc. Research Howard Garrett's sick tree treatment. Most of Ft. Worth tends to have a sandier soil which doesn't hold the moisture compared to the black clay here in Plano. If I had to guess it would be too little water. If it's heavily irrigated and the location has poor drainage that will kill any tree except perhaps the Bald Cypress.

The Bradford Pear is pretty, but it's a fast growing, relatively short lived tree. It's branching structure leads to problems as it ages. It's not uncommon to see 10-15 year Bradford Pears split in half by a wind or ice storm. It's not really worth saving IMHO. I would recommend something more suited to our demanding conditions. Better to work WITH Mother Nature. The Burr Oak is a majestic long lived tree that does quite well here. The Bald Cypress is a beautiful tree. I like the Chinese Elm too. Stay away from the Silver Maple.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Yeah unless it is just a water problem I would replace it with a nice oak or pecan, both which can live into the hundreds of years (I have one old pecan tree on my property that was spared when the neighborhood was developed in the 20's and we are guessing that it is well past 150 years old). You would be surpised how fast an oak actually grows when it is well watered and fertalized (not talking about live oaks which are real slow growers).

BTW WHERE ARE THE PICS?

[DigitalScape]

Based on your description, cotton root rot is my guess on this John. The Bradford pears are very susceptible to this (and not much can be done).

[Jake]

Originally Posted by texkam

.... Stay away from the Silver Maple.

Great. The only two trees in my backyard are a Bradford Pear and a Silver Maple....

[alamoshutterbug]

It's been said but I will concur that the Bradford shouldn't be spared. At 5 years your investment in time is not that bad and you will only get another ten or so years from the pear.

Did you do a drainage test before you put the tree in? Basically this involves digging a cubic yard hole and filling it with water, twice, then watching to see how long it drains. It should be less than 24 hours on the second filling.

I would visit your local book store and pick up one or two of Howard Garrett's books. They are great (even if you don't garden organically) because he provides lots of great selection guidance.

[picman]

Do you use a "weed & feed"? Can be just as bad for trees as weeds.

[JohnT]

I failed to mention that I have another BF just a few feet from the sick one, and it's doing fine.

When I had these planted, I knew little about them other than they are fast growers, which was what I wanted (I love the shade they provide). However, I have since learned much about them and would have chosen a different tree.

[gardener]

Cotton root rot would not be my first guess on the problem since once infected, the tree or bush will usually and completely die over the span of perhaps two to three weeks. While it is a problem in N TX and Bradfords are suseptible to CR as are many other plants, the defining hint here is that it did the same thing last year. If the damage is confined to one area or limb of the tree at any one point, I might suspect fireblight but the OP said the leaves were falling off, not that the limbs in question were actually dying. Borers maybe or perhaps the root girdling problem mentioned earlier?
Have you examined the affected limbs to see if there are any clues there? Is it possible that there is something buried (rocks, construction trash, etc)under the tree that would cause the root system to be confined? When the trees were planted, were they bought balled and burlapped or in containers?

Oh, and IMHO, Howard Garrett is a certifiable nut. He didn't start out that way but over the years, his product recommendations have gone from reasonable to completely unreasonable with an emphasis on products with his name attached to the lable. His advice has gone from plant specific to one basic answer for any problem you can think of.
Organic gardening is based on the use of organic products, remedies, growing methods, and materials, not on using a multitude of different products and potions just because they're organic in nature.
Sorry but I'm heavily biased on the issue...

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by picman

Do you use a "weed & feed"? Can be just as bad for trees as weeds.

Nope. No chemicals.

[donlfaulkner]

One of my Bradford pares became firewood last year. The other will follow in a year or two.

They were over 10 years old. I did use a weed killer on my lawn before the first one died. That may have been the reason for it's demise. Did not know weed killer would work on trees.

[Westx]

Originally Posted by gardener

oh, And Imho, Howard Garrett Is A Certifiable Nut. He Didn't Start Out That Way But Over The Years, His Product Recommendations Have Gone From Reasonable To Completely Unreasonable With An Emphasis On Products With His Name Attached To The Lable. His Advice Has Gone From Plant Specific To One Basic Answer For Any Problem You Can Think Of.
Organic Gardening Is Based On The Use Of Organic Products, Remedies, Growing Methods, And Materials, Not On Using A Multitude Of Different Products And Potions Just Because They're Organic In Nature.
Sorry But I'm Heavily Biased On The Issue...

+1.