Help!!! What can have caused this?

[Sheilakins]

My 9year old pear tree has fallen over today, loads of pears on it too , but if you look at the photo, it doesn't appear to have any roots....what can have caused this, it's been growing happily for the past 9years no problems at all...not a one :'(

[Guest]

What is the trunk like underneath that collar/ wrap? I would say crown root rot but I would have thought the top would show some signs. I am sure FB will be a long soon as he had lost a fair few to crown root rot

[Sheilakins]

What is the trunk like underneath that collar/ wrap? I would say crown root rot but I would have thought the top would show some signs. I am sure FB will be a long soon as he had lost a fair few to crown root rot

On closer inspection the roots are in fact intact!, the trunk has snapped off from the weight of the pears this year, just weighed the crop & it weighs 37lb!....and they're no we're near ripe enough yet, we don't normally pick them until end of sept.

[Nicos]

Oh heck- I wouldn't have expected that!
Not sure- but could you make pear chutney????

[fishpond]

I wouldn't have thought that 37lb would snap a healthy trunk, a branch yes, but not a trunk.(I assume they would also be fairly evenly distributed around the tree so, no) I would look for a further problem.

[1Bee]

No clues, just hugs! So upsetting.

[FB.]

.....I would look for a further problem.....

Such as graft:scion incompatibility.

[FB.]

Sorry, should have said: graft incompatibility - scion:rootstock.
But for some reason the editing function doesn't work.

[Sheilakins]

I wouldn't have thought that 37lb would snap a healthy trunk, a branch yes, but not a trunk.(I assume they would also be fairly evenly distributed around the tree so, no) I would look for a further problem.

The tree didn't have a thick trunk, it was only a small patio type tree altho grow in ground not in a pot and it snapped right near the base of the tree at ground level, the roots are still firmly in the ground

[Bigmallly]

Sorry, should have said: graft incompatibility - scion:rootstock.
But for some reason the editing function doesn't work.

Can a graft fail after 9 years?

[Starling]

Can a graft fail after 9 years?

Roostock grafts can fail at any time, and are prone to doing so but I suspect that's not what is at play here. My guess is collar rot. This is something that happens when mulch, or compost/soil is piled too far up around the base of the tree. Because this material recieves a lot of water and heat, it decomposes the trunk--the trunk rots, snaps off and leaves the rootmass in the ground. Rootstock grafts are especially susceptible.

What has happened with this pear tree is very indicative of what you'd expect to see in a case of collar rot.