Prevention Is the Cure The big news in pear growing is kaolin
clay, a superfine organic spray sold as Surround that coats pear
trees in a thin, white protective barrier. The pear psylla, a
small sucking insect much like an aphid, is the primary insect
scourge of pears, largely because the honeydew left by the pests
encourages the growth of sooty mold. Psylla adults simply won't
lay eggs on trees sprayed with kaolin, and the kaolin residue
irritates psylla nymphs. Your trees will look like they're
dusty, but the stuff is harmless. It is so effective, says John
Dunley, Ph.D., an associate professor of entomology at the
Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension
Center in Wenatchee, that even the big nonorganic growers in his
area are using it. Cover your trees through bloom, and ideally
keep them covered across the growing season, Dr. Dunley says.
Codling moths affect pears less than they do apples, but they
can be a problem in some areas. You can control them with
nothing more complicated th