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Planted 9 fruit trees early spring all the others have taken very well, but the conference looks rather poorly. All leaves have dropped albeit if you scrape at the branches there does appear to be life as it is green. Have spiked the soil to get some air into it but soil is very good so I do not think it is waterlogged. Any ideas? Have tried to attach photo to give you an idea of problem (basically no leaves and thin branches ave turned brown)
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No idea what the problem is despite having a few Conference Pear trees, although a total leaf drop doesn't look good. I guess you probably only have two options. Either wait and see if it is sufficiently alive next spring to produce new leaves, or (supposing it has contracted a terminal fungal disease) dig it out now and replant something in the same position this winter (but preferably not a Conference Pear). -
It shouldn't be losing its leaves. Something is wrong - either disease (canker, fireblight, severe scab causing defoliation) or severe drought stress.
I think there's a good chance your tree is dying, but it might be worth posting some more pictures:
Can you post several pictures of:
1. Picture from ground level to a few inches above the graft.
2. Picture showing the whole trunk.
3. Picture showing where the branches join the main stem/trunk
4. Picture of the last foot of the length of a couple of the branches.
5. Picture of anything that you think doesn't look right, or close-up pictures of any discoloured/sunken bark..Comment
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What rootstock is the tree grafted on? How old was it when planted? Was it supplied bare-root or in a container.
Incidentally the "bark scrape test" is not much use. It can still show green even when the tree has had it.Comment
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It works best with dormant trees or with trees which failed to come out of dormancy because it takes a while for a dead tree to dry out and turn brown.Originally posted by orangepippin View Post
A tree which is dying or died within the last few weeks can still have green..Comment
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