I have a pear tree that is at least twenty years old. It has bore fruit consistently, but less plentiful than what is desirable, until last year. Spots appeared on the leaves, beginning on the underside and then burn through to the top and no fruit. What is it and what can I do about it?
That is a fungal infection, you have two options that I am aware of:
1) Spray the tree a couple of times a week with an aerated compost tea.
2) Copper sulphate
I usually advise against using copper sulphate, if you do choose to use it, just be liberal with it and when you have cured your tree, use the compost tea to restore the natural flora and fauna to the tree and surrounding area.
Opa I was just wondering do you use compost tea from your composter because I remember that is what you recommended for using with my peach tree. The only thing is I have a simple composter not drip whole just old fencing rolled into a cylinder. So I was wondering how I could make compost tea.