Pear tree not producing fruit

RoddersUK

Hi all,

Friend has a pear tree, approx 5 years old, fruited well for a few years and now nothing.
Looks like black spots all over the leaves, quick Google, could be a disease. If so, what treatment does it need?
Looks quite squished in and doesn't really get any water, or would it be established enough now?

Edit - he put agricultural gypsum around, as the soil is quite clay.

purplerallim

Looks like it needs a good thinning out as it does need air flow through the tree to help prevent disease. If he does cut it back is he cutting all the ends, as some varieties tip bare fruit, but certainly fruit on newer growth, so needs to take care. Lastly if you had a frost when the flowers were out, you can loose the whole crop. This happened last year to my plum.

RoddersUK

I did ask if he ever thinned it out, looks like a no!

Erm, frost wise we are on the south coast, can't remember any late frost.

bertrand-mabel

Our fruit trees this year in April in the SW were covered in flowers and then frost after frost. Our "newer" pears have produced no fruits whilst our "older" ones in the garden (since 1978) are showing fruits. We are in heavy clay and last year a great harvest from all.

RoddersUK

Ok, I think pruning is the first step and see what it does next year!

Obelixx

@RoddersUK he needs to thin out at least one in 3 of those branches to let light and air flow thru the canopy.   He also needs to fork gently over the soil to break up the surface a bit but not damage roots beneath the tree and then give it a good long drink of 15 to 20 litres poured slowly so it soaks in.  Repeat weekly or more often in hot, dry spells.

Gypsum on its own won't help with clay.  Once the soil is moist and then every autumn he needs to give it a good mulch of well rotted manure and/or garden compost, being careful to leave the trunk clear, and then just leave it for the soil organisms to work down into the soil and round the roots.

Given all the above, the tree should respond by flowering and fruiting next year.   

RoddersUK

Thanks, I shall pass on the info!