Pear tree

[Big John]

Hi All

My pear tree seems to have a desease of some sort. A lot of the leaves have red swollen dots on them, some are worse than others and the worst ones look like they're drying up. Does anyone know what it is (sorry for the bad description!) Is there anything I can do for it? I have taken off the worst affected leaves and plan to burn them (when it's dry enough!!).

Many thanks in advance

Big John

[Palustris]

You have a couple of choices, either it is Black spot just beginning. Spray with something like Copper sulphate. OR something which is rare in Britain, Pear rust. In this the back of the leaf where the red spots are should have corresponding brown corky tissue.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1001/pear_rust.asp is a good place to help with id.

[SimonCole]

You can always give the tree a good liquid feed... I find that really helps. They also like a good long drink.

[Flummery]

It could be some sort of gall. They tend to swell up and look a bit gruesome. If so they will contain an insect of some sort (in some stage of its development). It won't kill the tree but it does look a bit grim.

I believe the real pest you need to look out for is the partridge!