What Is Wrong With My Medlar Fruit Tree?

Do the leaves and fruits have olive-brown, velvety spots that become dark and corky?

Do the fruits have small brown spots that enlarge and grow fuzzy in humid weather?

Is there a tan spotting on the foliage and the plants have lost vigor?

Are the leaves yellow and covered by small bumps?

Are the leaves curled and yellow?

Are the leaves discolored, foliage may be webbed?

Are the leaves discolored and distorted?

Do the leaves have holes?

Brown, velvety or corky surface lesions on leaves usually indicate a disease - Apple scab. This fungal disease spread during springtime when warmth and moisture promote last year's spores to discharge and fly. To prevent apple scab, destroy all dropped leaves before spring. Growing season applications of copper or sulfur sprays can help a lot in control of the disease. Pruning trees to encourage air circulation also helps.

These symptoms are caused by fungal disease - Brown rot. Other symptoms of brown rot may be withered blossoms, mummified fruits, brown leaves, and small tan cankers with dark margins on twigs. Remove and destroy both mummified fruits and twigs or branches with gummy lesions. For more control, spray sulfur early to protect blooms, then again later to protect the fruit.

Tan spotting on the foliage usually indicate fungal disease - Leaf blight. Spray foliage with fish emulsion or with sulfur to prevent the spread of mild infections.

Yellow leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Spider mites are known to cause problems for medlar trees. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

Discolored and distorted leaves are caused by leafhoppers. These small, green or brown insects feed by sucking juices from leaves undersides. Insecticidal soap helps with severe infestations.

Various caterpillars will feed on false indigo plants. Handpick and destroy caterpillars, or spray plants with BTK if caterpillars are feeding.

Apple Sawflies can be seen at the time of blossom. They lay their eggs at the base of open flowers. Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillar-like larvae burrows into young fruits making their way to the core. Rake up any fallen infested fruits and remove them.