Troubleshooting
Beth pear problems — and how to fix them
Beth pear (Pyrus communis 'Beth') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Pear scab (Venturia pirina)
Dark, scabby lesions on fruit and leaves in wet springs. Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves; apply copper-based fungicide at bud burst if pressure is high. Choose resistant varieties where possible.
Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora)
Bacterial disease causing shoot tips to die back with a 'shepherd's crook' appearance and scorched foliage. Prune 30 cm below the affected area into clean wood, sterilising tools between cuts. No effective chemical cure available to home gardeners.
Codling moth
Larvae tunnel into developing fruit, causing premature drop. Use pheromone traps from late spring to monitor and disrupt mating; apply codling moth grease bands to trunk in autumn.
Prevent beth pear problems before they start
Most beth pear issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Beth pear problems — FAQ
Why is my beth pear pear scab (venturia pirina)?
Dark, scabby lesions on fruit and leaves in wet springs. Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves; apply copper-based fungicide at bud burst if pressure is high. Choose resistant varieties where possible.
Why is my beth pear fireblight (erwinia amylovora)?
Bacterial disease causing shoot tips to die back with a 'shepherd's crook' appearance and scorched foliage. Prune 30 cm below the affected area into clean wood, sterilising tools between cuts. No effective chemical cure available to home gardeners.
Why is my beth pear codling moth?
Larvae tunnel into developing fruit, causing premature drop. Use pheromone traps from late spring to monitor and disrupt mating; apply codling moth grease bands to trunk in autumn.