What's wrong with my pear tree? :-(

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Does anyone know what this is - some sort of disease? And how do I fix it?

Poor wee tree

Looks like the fungus, pear rust. We had a black version all over ours last year. There is really nothing you can do. Do not spray with commercial products because then you cannot eat the fruit.
With rust it might not affect the fruit.
The black virus we had affected the whole tree and fruit. As the leaves dropped we tried to collect them up, as much as possible, as the virus will stay in the soil.
We left the tree, in the hope that it would escape this year. So far so good, only a few leaves seem to be affected, but this might change. If it does we will have to fell the tree. A shame as it’s quite mature.
Hope yours recovers.

Thanks @Beebumble2 - would it be worth using commercial products in the hope that it would help, obviously accepting that we won't be able to eat the fruit this year? Would like to give it the best chance possible!

The RHS say that nothing will cure the problem, although I suspect some fungus spray manufacturers would say differently. Personally I wouldn’t risk it, in case the tree then permanently is harbouring the chemicals.
I’m no scientist, but I do try to only use organic methods on fruit and veg.

I'd definitely prefer not to throw noxious chemicals at it, for exactly that reason. Thanks again for responding!

It's missing a partridge??

@Sunnydayshereatlast it's certainly worth a try . . .

This happened to a pear tree I had, and I didn't treat it in the hope that the fungus would die off over winter. I tried for three years and each year it looked promising to start with but the leaves slowly turned brown over the course of the summer. I got rid of it in the end as it was depressing to look at! You may have more luck than me though, so probably worth giving it a year or two.

I gather this is a really common problem. It's a shame as they are such pretty trees, but I would never get another one.

It's sad, @Coronilla - I feel really sorry for it

Other than pick the leaves up from the ground to prevent it being in the soil as far as possible, is there ANYTHING else I can do? Sounds like I'm in it for the long-haul . . .

You could try soluble aspirin, 2x325mg tablets to a litre of water. I would remove as many diseased leaves as possible, then spray both sides of the healthy leaves.

Milk and water (60:40 dilution) has anti-fungal properties too but I don't think it has been tested on rust.

The good news is that if it survives this year, it might be ok next year. Pear rust has a 2 part life cycle (it needs 2 hosts) so it needs to infect juniper in the winter to be able to reinfect your pear next year. If you have a juniper, you need to check that and remove any cankers in the spring. Then regularly spray the leaves on the pear with aspirin next year so you catch it before it takes hold.

Thank you so much, @WTFisthisabout - will do as you say. I don't know if we have juniper - I'll have to google what it looks like and then go have a poke around!

I can't wait to see DH's face when I tell him I need to give our sick pear tree some aspirin . . .

At least I will have given your DH something to laugh about, even if it doesn't save your pear tree

Soluble aspirin is great in the garden. It's pet, child and insect friendly and you can use it on edibles. It's not as effective as commercial treatments but it is safe and natural. It's synthesised salicyclic acid, which is named after willow trees (Salix salix) that produce it as part of their natural defence system against disease (as do many other plants). If you soak seeds in it, you will get higher germination rates and healthier seedlings as it gives some protection against fungal, bacterial and viral infections. It promotes root growth as well as it is a plant hormone too, not just a immune defence.

Thanks for the info.WTFisthisabout. Every days a school day on here.
I will use the info on the seeds and smaller plants.
Unfortunately my pear tree is too large to spray.