[stephent]

I have a pear tree (well i think it is) on the allotment I have just got my hands on, however it doesnt look in great shape.

There are some buds, but doesnt really seem to be alot of life in it at all. There also seems to be this litchen? or fungus? growing on it. I have attached a picture. What do you guys think?

[Yorkie]

Difficult to tell at this time of year.  It has shed its leaves and lichen is more about air quality than a problem with the tree.

I'd leave it in and see what happens next year.

[stephent]

Plan is to leave it, but if I can help it in anyway, I will.

If you have any idea, please let me know. Will be putting some membrane and woodchip around it in the summer to keep weed growth down.

[AlaninCarlisle]

I'd just peel back a bit of the top layer of bark. If it's green underneath, the tree lives, if it's brown, it's kaput

[shoozie]

this might be helpful

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=411

It's not been a great year for fruit trees up here - not a single pear from one of ours, few apples and no plums 

[Trillium]

The lichen just tells you that the tree has been around for a while. And they've all gone dormant now so best to wait as suggested and spring will give the answer.

[stephent]

Thats great thank everyone. Hoping for pears now this summer.