Fire Blight in Fruit Trees

Fire blight, bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a destructive bacterial disease that attacks fruit bearing trees, largely apple, pear, and crabapple. It starts to manifest when trees begin active growth and when conditions are warm and moist. A watery liquid starts oozing from cankers, which are sores created by the bacteria in the previous year; this liquid is the bacteria spreading. Open flower to petal drop is when the tree is most susceptible to infection, causing damage that may be either localized or extensive, depending on the environmental conditions and plant health.

            The disease progresses from the end of the branch inward; dead fruit and leaves remain on the branch throughout the season, giving it the scorched look and the origin of the name “fire blight”. Infection can spread to the whole branch, trunk, and root system, eventually killing the whole plant. The splashing of rain, insect activity, and even honeybees pollinating can spread fire blight, which may be detrimental to an orchard over time. The pathogen responds to growing conditions. Unfortunately, high moisture and soil richness promote fire blight growth because the bacteria can spread faster in the plant when the host is healthy and happy.

When it spreads from the flower, fire blight streaks the wood under the bark with pink/red/orange tones (little flecks). This speckled appearance is a sign of the bacterial infection spreading in otherwise healthy-looking wood. The infection can be 2 or 3 feet away from the main damaged-looking wood, so when eradicating fire blight, be sure to check the wood color to confirm you are getting the extent of the contamination. The best time to cut the diseased wood out is in the late summer or winter when the bacteria isn’t growing. It is recommended to sanitize your shears/saws in between cuts as well. Spraying a special bactericide will stop the spread of the fire blight bacteria, but the diseased wood still needs to be removed.

Welcome Spring 2026!

We are certainly experiencing a typical New England Spring with cloudy days, strong sunny days, and fluctuating temperatures! The perfect combination of sunlight, temperature, and moisture has flowers popping up, with crocus and daffodils leading the way, while lawns are starting their spring green-up.

Large snowfall amounts and continuous snow cover this past winter have led to increasing vole activity in lawns. The winter season is when the most damage occurs to turf from voles, evidenced as the snow melts in early spring. The snow provided shelter from predators, protecting the voles while creating a layer of insulation for themselves and their food supplies. Voles are herbivores and primarily feed above ground, damaging herbaceous and tuberous plants, though they also gnaw on the root systems and crowns. This can cause girdling, resulting in plant dieback and possible death. Voles are at the beginning of the line when it comes to pests that cause turf damage!

Hemlocks are showing more evidence of winter burn than is normally common. Signs of damage include the thinning of the crown and needles turning brown or chlorotic (yellow).

As always, be tick conscious! The above-average snowfall this past winter was a benefit to the tick population; the snow cover provided an insulation layer for the ticks, keeping the ground temperature close to freezing and protecting them from wind chill. Many tick species, including the lone star tick, can lower the freezing point of their blood by using elements comparable to anti-freeze that occur naturally in their bodies. This can help them survive conditions that may normally kill them.

Do frequent tick checks after spending time outdoors, especially if you are working around leaf debris or tall grass. Make ticks easier to spot by wearing light colored clothing and tucking your pants into your socks. Ticks can carry many diseases and are a serious threat to our health.

Enjoy the sunshine and have a very Happy Spring!

25b Minimum Risk Pesticides

Minimum risk pesticides are materials that have been determined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to pose little to no risk to human health or the environment. As a result, they are exempt from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The sale and use of these substances are closely monitored to make sure they are compliant with both state and federal pesticide laws. These products still require a label with the name of the active ingredient and percentage of application by weight, as well as the inert ingredients, helping improve transparency and to ensure that they are used correctly.

You can find a full list of these materials in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40- Protection of Environment ( 40 CFR 152.25(f) ). The list is updated regularly; the most current list is available by directly contacting the Regulation Division of the EPA.