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Fruit & Orchards

Pruning my pear tree

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I just moved to a new house and discovered I have a few fruit trees. At the end of fall I found a pear on one... Looked to me like a Bosc pear but not sure. I want to bring it back and hopefully enjoy some pears this coming season. I need pruning help and I do have some pictures. It looks to have had some wind damge years ago and leans quite a bit. It's is flowering now but appears to have a section that might be dead maybe? I think there was also some fire blight but I trimmed that out. Also I have several large branches that droop like a weeping willow and the rest mostly reach upward. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have researched pruning but I need pruning for dummies lol

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Comments (7)

TurkeyCreekTrees Zone 5B
9 years ago
A few basics, remove all dead wood, remove limbs that are rubbing against each other and remove limbs growing toward the interior of the tree for starters.
southard72
Original Author
9 years ago
Is it ok to do tht now or do I need to wait till winter?
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Thanks for the info. There are other pear trees on the property that are taller than the ones I mentioned, have no low branches (or really any branches except for the very top) and drop these very small (golf ball size or smaller)pears that are almost banana yellow in color. The deer make quick work of them. Harvestman - I will probably do some pruning this weekend. Northwoods- Any other recommendations as to something I might try to improve the fruit in any way? Thanks again!
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Clare: Open center, hands down. Your newly-planted trees are already the same height as my pear trees that have been in the ground for 15 years -- and it's not because of the rootstock, it's pruning and training. I would not have purchased and planted trees of this size, since I prefer to begin training well before they achieve that height. Horizontal branches are fine; vigorous central growth is not. Tying the branches down is one technique, branch spreaders is another. To control growth, try pruning in late summer. European pears are often slow to begin bloom and fruiting, but I have found that training to a vase shape and pruning in summer reduces the time required. Nurseries often like to sell very tall trees at premium prices since many people believe taller is better. The opposite is the case. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
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The only issue with summer pruning is that it may slow overall tree growth over letting that limb feed the roots for the remainder of the growing season and cutting it off during dormancy. Most instructions for young, non-bearing trees is to prune primarily during dormancy- usually late winter-very early spring- and to train during the growing season by pinching. If the branch bothers you, you can remove it safely now. Asian pears flower and fruit quite young.
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Hi, Sakura! I think you would come to love your trees even more if you would service them yourself. Pruning isn't difficult, and there is no precisely right method. Most important, you can become one with your trees and you needn't worry about causing permanent harm. Here are some basics: 1) You be the boss! Shape and size the tree the way you want. Don't be afraid to make cuts. 2) Start by removing any suckers, then 3) remove any dead or seriously diseased limbs, then 4) remove any branches that are too low, then 5) remove any hangers, then 6) remove watersprouts, then 7) remove any branches growing toward the center of the tree, then 8) remove any crossing branches--leaving the stronger or more important, then 9) remove any mummified fruit, then 10) top the tree if it's getting too tall to suit you. Shape it like a Christmas tree with no upper limbs shading lower limbs. Use limb spreaders to force 70-90 degree angles with the central leader. Stand back and throw your hat through the tree. If it won't sail through, cut some more to allow good air circulation and spray penetration to minimize the disease that so concerns you. Thin your fruit big time. Live life to its fullest. Perhaps Harvestman will weigh in with his thoughts!!! Good luck, Misterbaby.
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TurkeyCreekTrees Zone 5B
9 years ago
Dead wood should come out now. I would wait on the rest now that the tree is actively growing.
southard72
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you!
southard72
Original Author
9 years ago

If I add another picture (closer up and hopefully not sideways) could you possibly answer one more question? I was wondering how far down to cut the dead branch? It's the one on the right that grows straight up. There are only 2 branches with leaves on it and the rest is dead but those 2 branches look like fire blight so I'd like to cute them off as well. My worry is it makes up most of that side of the tree and since its leaning so bad I wasn't sure if I would make it to uneven and to heavy on that side. The tree seems very sturdy. The branch is about 9-10 feet tall from where it is attached to tree. Thanks in advance!

I don't know why it's is sideways because when I rotate pic it still comes out sideways sorry

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Houzz Photo

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TurkeyCreekTrees Zone 5B
9 years ago
Cut the dead limb back to live wood. Your tree is not ideal with the lean. Ideally it would be best to cut it off and plant a new one! However I assumed from the start that it wasnt something you wanted to do. A couple of things you can do is one stake the tree so it does not lean more. Or second you could water the tree extremely well and actually try to upright it somewhat by pulling it. That is going to damage some roots, so stake it afterwards until it can stabilize itself over a couple of years. In the meantime plant a new tree and take good care of it. In 6-8 years you will have a healthy pear, producing fruit.
southard72
Original Author
9 years ago
Ok I will definitely cut the branch back this weekend. And I will stake it to be safe. You're right, I really don't want to start over by planting another. And I would be scared to try an upright it myself by soaking the soil...my luck it would die! I've never had any fruit trees and I'm just excited to see what happens! I also believe I have several persimmons trees and an old grape vine on a trellis. The persimmons looked great last year so I think they're fine but the grape vine looks to be in rough shape...any advice for that? Thank you sourh for all your help!! I've just moved to this house about 7 months ago and the grounds were neglected for years

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