Should I trim the brown tips off?

You can trim them for looks, but it is not necessary for the health of the tree. Use clean, sharp shears to avoid damaging the leaf tissue.

Brown tips are rarely a disease. If the brown areas are spreading rapidly or look like they are burning, check for fire blight.

Callery pear: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the soil is dry and needs a deep soak.
Look for white crusty deposits on the soil surface.
Check the weather history for recent heat waves.

Likely causes

Salt accumulation
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle, often after a long period without rain. This happens when minerals from fertilizers or tap water build up in the soil.
What to do: Flush the soil by watering deeply and slowly for 30 minutes. This helps wash excess salts away from the root zone.
Heat stress
Possible
How to tell: The tips brown during extreme summer heat when the tree cannot move water to the leaf edges fast enough. The rest of the leaf may look dull.
What to do: Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree to keep the roots cool. Ensure you are watering deeply every 7 to 14 days.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your callery pear

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Worry if the browning moves inward toward the center of the leaf. It is normal for the very tips to brown slightly during the peak of a hot summer.

Stopping it coming back

Mulch the root zone to maintain consistent soil moisture. Water deeply to flush the soil profile periodically.

Callery pear: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your callery pear and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips off?: You can trim them for looks, but it is not necessary for the health of the tree. Use clean, sharp shears to avoid damaging the leaf tissue.
Is this a disease?: Brown tips are rarely a disease. If the brown areas are spreading rapidly or look like they are burning, check for fire blight.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Callery pear leaves getting brown tips?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your callery pear?