North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Jim,

Here is a post that goes back to 2005:

Check this link, http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/pdf/3002.pdf from the 
Ohio State University Extension website.  If you are unable to download a 
.pdf file, try this link, http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3002.html. 
Here is an excerpt from the article:

"Prune out fire blight cankers and blighted twigs. To decrease the inoculum 
level for the following season, prune out blighted twigs and cankers during 
the dormant season. During the dormant season (winter) there is much less 
chance of spreading bacteria. Branches that are more than half-girdled by 
cankers should be removed. Cut off blighted twigs by making cuts at least 4 
inches below the visible dead wood. Cankers can be cut out of trunks or 
large branches by removing dead tissue down to wood that appears healthy. If 
blighted twigs are pruned out during summer, cuts should be made l2 to l5 
inches below diseased wood and pruning tools should be disinfested by 
dipping in a 2:10 solution of household bleach in water after each cut."

We operate an orchard with over 11,000 trees in Northern Illinois and are in 
climate zone 5.  We had a bit of blight this past season and used these 
recommendations, as we have in the past and lost no trees out of over 100 
trees with blight.  I would also recommend the book "Diseases of Tree Fruits 
in the East" from Michigan State University Extension which is an excellent 
guide on diseases and their control with very helpful photos.  You can also 
purchase from Amazon.com at 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565250109/qid%3D1130890460/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-0015974-0383260. 
I hope this helps!

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Office (815) 648-4467
Mobile (815) 228-2174
Fax (609) 228-2174
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "nottke1" <nottke1@earthlink.net>
To: "Nafex" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 7:42 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Fireblight


> All,
>
> After last year's discussion on fireblight I meant to write down the 
> concensus recommendation on manual control.
> What I recollect is that it was to prune out the twig/branch a few inches 
> below the symptoms as soon as it is noticed, leaving an "ugly stub" if 
> necessary, rinsing clippers with alcohol between cuts.  Then taking out 
> ugly stubs during the dormant season.  Is that correct?
> I just found the first couple "shepherd's crooks" on my pear trees, expect 
> to see it on apples soon.
> Thanks,
>
> Jim Nottke
> Zone 7
> Pfafftown, North Carolina