Whitetail Crabs 2026

[TonySoprano]

I'm almost certain your pictures show fireblight, and on that third one it has gone well past the blossom into the new wood on this year's growth. Shown below is a tree in my yard that has a mild case of blossom blight like I was talking about earlier. This is on a Summer Champion cultivar, Note how that it got some of the blossoms but not all, and it doesn't go into the wood. You can see an apple on one blossom but blight on one nearby.

PS - I can't explain the weeds like you were talking about. Maybe that damage is something else.

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Thanks , will the tree live , and should I cut that damaged part out ?. I've been planting bare root trees maybe 8-9 years , and this is the first time I've had this happen on young trees (planted last year) . Plus for some reason my 3rd Death Wish tree is totally clean.

 

[Native Hunter]

Thanks , will the tree live , and should I cut that damaged part out ?. I've been planting bare root trees maybe 8-9 years , and this is the first time I've had this happen on young trees (planted last year) . Plus for some reason my 3rd Death Wish tree is totally clean.

I think it will live, but I can't say for sure. Young susceptible cultivars often do die from FB.

You need to go at least 6 inches below the visible dead wood and cut off that part. Either carry the dead part far away or burn it. If you make several cuts on different limbs, I also recommend rubbing alcohol on the pruners between cuts.

Fireblight can range from severe to nonexistent from one year to the next. They say the ideal conditions are warm weather around 70 degrees that is humid, or rainy spring weather. However, it sometimes doesn't follow that pattern. We are extremely dry this year, but the disease is at least what I would rate as moderate.

As I stated earlier, some cultivars will improve resistance as the tree ages. I had a Brushy Mountain Limbertwig that got it a lot when young but it gained a lot of resistance as it matured. I also believe the same thing is happening with my Virginia Crab. However, there is no guarantee that will always happen.

Regarding the third Death Wish, it is probably clean due to luck. For some reason the bacteria just missed it this year.

Best Wishes.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

You need to go at least 6 inches below the visible dead wood and cut off that part. Either carry the dead part far away or burn it. If you make several cuts on different limbs, I also recommend rubbing alcohol on the pruners between cuts.

This is exactly what I've read from several sources over the years. Great advice Native.

We used to have a Bradford pear in our back yard that would get FB in some years. It would affect some of the young, new shoot tips - but it never killed the tree. I cut it down because it outgrew its spot & I was afraid it might blow over onto the neighbor's shed. But ..... FB didn't kill the tree, even though it struck several times over 20 years. FWIW.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Having the same issues as everyone else.this is a Death Wish planted last spring…tips of the leaves browning..tree did not grow a ton last year and it’s in a good spot with lots of sun and not too wet..any ideas? We have had some cold nights with a little frost recently ..hoping it’s just cold burn or something like that?

 

[TonySoprano]

Having the same issues as everyone else.this is a Death Wish planted last spring…tips of the leaves browning..tree did not grow a ton last year and it’s in a good spot with lots of sun and not too wet..any ideas? We have had some cold nights with a little frost recently ..hoping it’s just cold burn or something like that?
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Doesn't look quite as bad as mine....Hopefully that's just frost damage . I sent Terry pictures of the damage on my 2 Death wish trees asking if it was fireblight, since Death Wish's are supposed to have "high resistance to Fireblight" (still no reply) . What's strange is all 3 of my Death Wish trees leaves grew super clean last year, but the trees themselves are all spindly compared to a 30 06 planted the same time. I still have high hopes For Death Wish , I pruned out the damage and will observe them a few more years before doing anything drastic.

 

[homerj]

A variety can be fireblight resistant in one location and not in another. There are at least a few strains of fireblight bacterium.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Doesn't look quite as bad as mine....Hopefully that's just frost damage . I sent Terry pictures of the damage on my 2 Death wish trees asking if it was fireblight, since Death Wish's are supposed to have "high resistance to Fireblight" (still no reply) . What's strange is all 3 of my Death Wish trees leaves grew super clean last year, but the trees themselves are all spindly compared to a 30 06 planted the same time. I still have high hopes For Death Wish , I pruned out the damage and will observe them a few more years before doing anything drastic.

im kinda just letting it ride as it isnt all the leaves and its not super bad...my Death Wish was the same way very clean but not a ton of growth (maybe a foot?) hoping it heals and makes a good jump this year

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Pic shows most of the browning is on the smallest leaves - might be frost damage. Bigger leaves look fine. I wouldn't worry yet.

 

[Native Hunter]

One other thing concerning fireblight in general - I’ve never seen it on a tree before the tree produces blossoms. I’m not saying it is impossible - but I’m saying that from my experience, it is highly improbable where I live. That’s because the common entry place is through the blossoms.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

One other thing concerning fireblight in general - I’ve never seen it on a tree before the tree produces blossoms. I’m not saying it is impossible - but I’m saying that from my experience, it is highly improbable where I live. That’s because the common entry place is through the blossoms.

my tree definitely had some blossoms before the frosts and I picked most of them off (kept a few to see what they taste like--even though I did have some last year)..

 

[Ruffdude]

I’m going to let my droptine put a full load of fruit on this year. It’s time I think to let go of the reins

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Stopped by my buddy’s land today..his drop tine has a crazy amount of fruit set!

 

[bigboreblr]

Terry comes out with several varieties each year. They all may not be as big of winners as the earlier varieties.

There's more risk to these roadside finds. Less known about them. Even ones sold from nurseries.

This year I see some wi term die back from my home trees in zone 5/6 NY. None on whitetail crab trees. At camp this year I've only seen the trees 1st weekend of May. I was pruning and living. A few woke up a bit.

30-06 can take the colder. It's amusing staple at camp old usda zone 3a. Now is considered 4. Crossbow is excellent especially for spray-free orchards. Another bugs don't like the tree, possibly more wax on the leaves.

1 or 2 sprays a year can mean alot to your trees. Can spray stuff for fire light in the same tank as most pesticides

Cedar apple rust. Just get resistant varieties. Deer use cedar as winter food.