Bark cracking on a pear: why and how to deal with it

Due to the cracked bark, the pear becomes vulnerable to pests and diseases, weakens and develops worse. Let's find out more about the reasons why the bark on the pear is cracking, and how to deal with this unpleasant situation.

The bark is cracking on the pear: why? causes of cracking

First, let's look at the reasons why the bark of pears cracks.

The bark on the pear is cracking from frost

The bark on the pear is cracking: photo

Often, the bark on the pear bursts due to frost, especially during a snowless winter. Sharp temperature changes and high air humidity are dangerous: during a thaw, water droplets fall into microcracks, and when the temperature drops again, the water turns into ice and expands, causing the crust to crack.

In addition, when heated, the trunk itself and the bark expand; with a cold snap, the bark shrinks faster than the trunk, and tears appear on it, like on too tight clothing (the so-called frost cracks).

This process can be repeated several times, making the damage more and more extensive. Frosts and changeable winters are especially dangerous for non-zoned varieties.

The problem can be caused by overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers, which provoke the growth of young shoots in late summer and autumn. The sprouts do not have time to get stronger before the cold weather and as a result they crack due to frost.

Insects and fungi

The bark on the pear is cracking: photo

The peeling of the cover can be provoked by a bark beetle eating it. In addition, many insect pests hibernate in cracks or lay their eggs there, causing new sections of the bark to burst.

Often, the bark of a pear leaves due to infection with a fungus: once in a small wound, the infection begins to eat away at the tissue. Because of this, the trunk is covered with black dots. When a fungal infection is neglected, the cover peels off and even peels off in pieces.

Sunburn

The bark on the pear can be cracked due to sunburn in winter or early spring. Cold and clear days are dangerous when the direct rays of the sun hit the dark trunk. In this case, areas wet from recently melted snow suffer especially strongly.

The bark on the pear is cracking from frostbite

The bark on the pear is cracking: photo

A good protection against frost cracks are harnesses that “cushion” temperature changes and protect the trunk from the drying wind and sun.

Many gardeners use ordinary newspapers for strapping - they allow air to pass through well, do not allow the bark to be covered with ice or rot. They need to be wound in several layers. You can also use spunbond or lutrasil tapes. It is advisable to cover both the trunk and the branches of the first order. This is especially important for varieties with low frost resistance, the bark of which tends to burst in winter, and young seedlings.

Furrowing is a good prevention of cracking. Trees need this procedure from the age of seven or eight. They spend it in the spring. With a sharp, clean knife on the north side of the trunk, make 2-3 intermittent lines of cuts. The length of each cut should be no more than 12 cm (so that the wood is not exposed), the length of the intervals between them is 2–3 cm. The total length of each line is 1.5–2 m. The places of the incisions are quickly tightened with young elastic bark. This reduces the tension of the cover and also prevents cracks due to temperature changes.

From fungus and sunburn

The bark on the pear is cracking: photo

Whitewashing the trunk and skeletal branches with lime milk (20%) will protect the pear from the dangerous winter sun. To make the whitewash last as long as possible, add a little clay to the solution.

Preventive treatments with fungicides or copper sulfate will protect the pear from fungus and harmful insects.

To combat the bark beetle in the period between the snow melt and bud break, they are treated with such preparations as "Calypso", "Antizhuk", "Confidor". After flowering, prophylactic spraying with insecticides is carried out (Clipper, Bifenthrin, Krona-Antip).

When processing with preparations, special attention should be paid to scratches and cracks, even small ones.

What to do with damaged pear bark

The bark on the pear is cracking: photo

What to do if the bark on the pear is cracked? First of all, the cracked trunk must be cleaned to healthy tissue with a sharp, well-sanitized garden knife. The wound should dry out a little, after which it must be treated with Bordeaux liquid (1-3%), antifungal drug or iron vitriol. After this product dries, you should cover the wound with garden varnish or make a chatterbox from clay and mullein (1: 1). At the end, you need to put on a breathable cotton or burlap bandage.

Some experts recommend treating a cracked trunk with sorrel: crushed fresh leaves are applied to the previously cleaned area with a thick layer (up to 2 cm) and tied. Repeat the procedure 3-4 times during the summer.

If attention is not paid to the damaged pear bark in time, the crack can turn into a hollow. In this case, it is necessary to clean out all rotting wood from it, treat the wound with vitriol and completely seal the hole with clay or cement.

Take care of the mineral feeding of the tree - this will help it restore its cover faster.

The appearance of cracks in the bark on the pear can be avoided if preventive measures are taken in time.