Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Cold Hardiness, Pears and Deer Damage

In regards to cold hardiness, does it make any difference where a fruit tree was grown?

Plant hardiness is a species or cultivar trait. The location of the nursery or where the plant was grown has little or no effect on plant hardiness. For example, a ‘Red Delicious’ apple tree produced in Missouri will be just as hardy as one produced in Minnesota.

What are some good pear varieties for Iowa?

Pear varieties (cultivars) that perform well in Iowa include ‘Summercrisp’ (University of Minnesota introduction, large fruit, matures early August), ‘Moonglow’ (introduced by USDA, medium to large fruit, matures mid-August), ‘Bartlett’ (large fruit, matures late August, susceptible to fireblight), ‘Luscious’ (developed at South Dakota State University, medium-sized fruit, matures mid-September), ‘Patten’ (originated in Iowa, large fruit, matures mid-September), and ‘Seckel’ (sometimes called Sugar Pear, small fruit, matures mid-September).

‘Moonglow’ and ‘Bartlett’ are not reliably hardy in northern Iowa. They should be planted only in central and southern portions of the state. All of the other aforementioned pear cultivars can be successfully grown throughout Iowa.

Deer have eaten off all the needles on the lower branches of my Colorado spruce. Are the bare branches going to die?

The deep snow and prolonged period of snowcover have posed serious problems for deer and other wildlife in the state. Denied access to food on the ground, deer have been forced to feed on trees and shrubs in woodlands, windbreaks and landscape plantings. Among evergreens, arborvitae and yews are the most susceptible to browsing by deer in winter.  However, deer will also browse on pines and spruces when food is scarce.

The extent of damage to the lower spruce branches will be determined by the presence or absence of buds (growing points). If buds are present, the lower branches will produce new growth in spring. The affected branches will initially have fewer needles than normal. However, the tree may fully recover in two or three years. If buds are absent, the affected branches will not be able to produce new growth and will die.

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