Some Inland Northwest orchardists have begun to discover fire blight in their trees and are trying to understand why and what to do.

 

Tianna Dupont with WSU’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center said these infections are on their own schedule.

 

“A lot of the infections we are seeing were actually originally from bloom infections and it takes time for those pathogen cells to build up in the tree, move throughout the phloem and then they accumulate in that young, susceptible, 1-2 year old new growth.”

 

If you come across those infections, it’s important to cut 12-18 inches below the infected area, though WSU’s Tim Smith also recommends cutting 4-5 inches from the main trunk or leader.

 

Dupont said it’s also important to get the infected branches out of the orchard and away from other susceptible trees and also understand your orchard so you should know if you need to disinfect your shears.

 

“The summer pruning is going to reduce the infected material and thus the inocula and hopefully reduce the amount of that bacteria getting down farther into the tree where it can do bigger damage, but you’re not going to get it all and so plan to come back in the winter for additional cutting.”

 

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.

 

More From PNW Ag Network