Scorched Trees? It’s Fire Blight

Scorched and Stressed: Fighting Fire Blight in Utah Trees

Blackened tips? Wilted blossoms?
It might look like fire damage, but it’s not. Fire Blight is a fast-spreading bacterial disease that affects many Utah trees, especially ornamental pears, crabapples, and apples. Its damage is sudden, and its spread is swift.Fire Blight causes the ends of branches to curl downward into a telltale hook shape. The leaves turn brown or black, but they stay attached — a classic sign that bacteria are at work beneath the bark.This disease spreads through wind, rain, pruning tools, and even insects. Once inside the tree, it can move quickly through the vascular system, killing branches and disfiguring the tree’s shape.

Our approach uses systemic trunk injections for internal defense and band sprays to protect external entry points. Together, they give your tree a layered shield against further infection. Left alone, Fire Blight can lead to irreversible dieback. But with early action, we can halt its spread, stimulate recovery, and preserve the tree’s natural beauty and structure.

Awareness is just as important as treatment. We equip our clients with knowledge on how to identify symptoms, avoid risky pruning periods, and minimize infection risk from season to season. Fire Blight is aggressive — but preventable. With the right tools and expert intervention, your trees don’t have to suffer. Utah Tree Care is here to protect what’s growing in your yard and across our communities.