skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

How do I prune my asian pear

rehabbingisgreen

12 years ago

I'm not sure how to prune this tree and I am really afraid of messing it up, this is my favorite tree. It has been growing 1 to 2 feet a year since we got it in the ground. It has been planted now for about 3 years and did have a couple fruit last year.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

dmtaylor
12 years ago
Nice looking tree! Now ask 100 different people how to prune it and you'll get 100 different answers. Here's what I would do:

1) Remove any branches that are more than half the size of the main trunk, a.k.a., the central leader. If you don't, such vigorous branches will compete for dominance with the central leader and shade the rest of the tree too much, which will result in less fruit and/or inferior quality fruit.

2) Remove any damaged or diseased wood. I don't see any on the picture, but take a look and make sure.

3) If you would like to control the size of your tree, then lop off the top of the central leader and all branches as high as you can reach. This will help keep your fruit closer to the ground so you won't need ladders to grab it all.

4) Use spreaders, weights, or tie down all branches other than the central leader more towards horizontal. The closer your branches get to horizontal, the more sunlight they will get and the more fruit they will produce. Keep the branches down for a year or two until the bark grows enough to hold them down that way permanently.

And that is about it for the basics. There are 100 other things that you *could* do, but those are the basic things that you should consider to achieve a more productive tree.

Happy pruning!
0
rehabbingisgreen
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so very much! I braved it and got out there and got most of the pruning done. I cut a good bit of height off too and I was afraid to do that but I really am happy I did.
0
Related Discussions
Question on pruning and shaping cherry and asian pears
Q
Comments (2)
Languard- I'm no professional, and there surely are more knowledgeable folks on this forum, but from what I see and my limited experience there are a couple things that come to mind. Your pear looks like it's laterals are overtaking the central leader in vigor. Top the central leader to promote more branching, then save the ones that balance the canopy and allow light penetration down below. You'll need to bend some of the lower branches to just 15degrees above horizontal eventually and keep them there through a season in order to form a balanced pyramidally shaped scaffold and get pears quicker. Scaffold creation- Observe the vigor(girth of your mid level branches) and length should be less than the lower branches. #2 from the top is becoming dominant, and maybe it's the picture, Cut it back to 3/4"stub(there maybe replacement branches you might want to generate). Ideally you want 3-4 main lower branches that fork as they extend, and then maybe fork again. I keep my sets of laterals 18" apart horizontally along the main stem. Don't be afraid to prune it back cause it'll bounce back quickly and then you'll know where you're heading. Or cut off stubby and the other lower one and go with the next set as your lower branches. 6" wont make a difference much. Cut the 2 remaining lateral in 1/2, and tie down to just above horizontal and train the branches outwards. That may be the least complicated solution. Have fun!
...See More
Why do I keep killing Asian pears?
Q
Comments (3)
Do you work for stark bros by chance? Yes possibly the soil, I suppose my question should be this: Are Asian pears less hardy or more sensitive to certain environmental conditions compared to European pears? Thanks!
...See More
Too late to prune Asian pear?
Q
Comments (2)
Bob: I am absolutely with the Fruitnut. Prune any time you are out there with your pruner. Summer is better than winter if you want to control your trees. And I concur that thinning Asian pears can be facilitated by removing some fruiting wood, since they routinely overset. I would take off the upright shoots, right at the base, and whatever else is crowded as well. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
...See More
Initial pruning of an Asian Pear with two leaders
Q
Comments (3)
Unless one would make it easier to have a straight leader you'd of course want to run with largest one. In my brevity I didn't mention that pears are sometimes grown as 3 leader trees to allow you to remove a single one if it gets struck by fire blight. I still wouldn't want to use 2 codominant leaders to do this because it would make the union weak. Not to make it more confusing, but I've read that pears are less likely to break from narrow, inverted bark unions of the type formed by codominant leaders than most other species. Wasn't my original answer more functional?
...See More
Related Professionals
Horsham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Seabrook Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Vernon Hills Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Canton Landscape Contractors · Berkley Landscape Contractors · Golden Gate Landscape Contractors · Morrisville Landscape Contractors · North Potomac Landscape Contractors · Old Saybrook Landscape Contractors · Secaucus Landscape Contractors · Thonotosassa Landscape Contractors · Westford Landscape Contractors · Weymouth Landscape Contractors · 07920 Landscape Contractors · Merrifield Landscape Contractors

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own European and Asian Pears

By Marianne Lipanovich

Try these trees for their good looks, delicious fruit and wide range of sizes — plus you can espalier them

EDIBLE GARDENS Why Grow Quince? For Beauty, Fragrance and Old-Time Flavor

By Marianne Lipanovich

Delightfully perfumed fruit and lovely spring blossoms make this apple and pear cousin worth a spot in the garden

WINTER GARDENING California Gardener's January Checklist

Winter-defying blooms and pruning saws earn a cheer, while California-focused gardening design books get a well-deserved shout-out

SOUTHWEST GARDENING Southwest Gardener's May Checklist

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Let May's warm temperatures guide your edible and flowering garden plantings, and don't forget to protect and prune your picks

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Crazy for Fruit Trees

By Marianne Lipanovich

Whether a single citrus or a mini apple orchard, even the smallest landscape space can bear deliriously delicious fruit

FRUIT TREES How to Grow Your Own Persimmons

By Marianne Lipanovich

Sturdy and easy to care for, these trees offer bright fruit through winter — and keeping them in bounds is no sweat

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Luscious Cherries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Nope, they’re not the easiest fruit to grow. But with spectacular blossoms and pies as possibilities, cherries are sure worth a try

GARDENING GUIDES Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There are lots of gorgeous, wildlife-friendly native plants ready to make an appearance in your garden

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

Sponsored

Old Dominion Kitchen Design

29 Reviews

Loudoun County's Kitchen & Bath Design Experts | Best of Houzz 3x

More Discussions

Salt-curing olives, a question

19

Lemon tree no new leaves lately

2

When growing an avocado from a seed, when and where do you trim it?

3

Is this fireblight?

2

peach tree (or apricot) for my zone

0