Fire blight is a bacterial disease that most often effects apple, pear, and hawthorn species.  The disease usually begins at the flowers, and moves its way into the branches.  Symptoms of this disease are typified by; brown shriveled leafs and flower, sunken bleeding areas on stems, and a shepard’s crook appearance on affected twigs and branches.

Foliar treatments to prevent this disease should be performed in late winter at bud swell.  The best treatment is to prune out affected areas, making sure to sanitize pruners between cuts.