Hello! New to the site need some help! Pear tree pruning

[backtorootsfarm]

I have been on the backyard chicken site for years but just now making it onto here. My husband and I just closed on new house this past week and it has a few fruit trees. The previous owner never touched the trees so its been a few years since anything has been done with them. No sign of diseases, no split bark or rot (NW lots of water). Two trees look to be barlett trees she said they werent the "apple looking ones" needless to say the previous owneres were very sweet but knew nothing about what was growing on their acre oh and two apple trees. everything was planted by the origonal owner back in 2004 so everything should be having their first crops this year. I need a good idea where to start with pruning the pear trees they have lots of vertical shoots on the main branchs and lots of crossing branches and its very tall about 11 feet and narrow. There are a lot of pruning needing to be done but I dont want to over prune and shock the tree. What do I need to do to have healthy productive pear trees?

Thanks!
Nicole

 

[Ridgerunner]

Frankly, one of the best things you could do is to google "pruning pear trees" and read a few articles. Most will talk about pruning them from when you plant them, but not all. What you are mainly looking for is what the final tree shape should be so you have a final shape in mind.

Those trees don't sound like they are anywhere near fully grown. Pears do tend to grow fairly tall and narrow. I can be pretty brutal when pruning a fruit tree but for what I think you have, I'd take off no more than 1/3 of the growth a year. First take off any limbs that are sprouting near the base of the tree. You want to take any away that might be below the graft. Then take out a limb if you have two that are crossing and rubbing. Then start taking out the water sprouts, the ones that are shooting straight up. You don't have to reclaim the total shape of the tree in one year if it has been out of control for a while. Take care of the main problems first, then worry about the fine details.

 

[lesa]

Congrats on your new home! Personally, I wouldn't touch them until fall. Let them do their thing this spring and summer- and see what you have. Pruning a dormant tree (when you haven't seen in leaves) seems a risky business to me. Keep us posted on your progress!

 

[trunkman]

Ridgerunner is right, do some research and don't take off more that a third at a time. Last winter I pruned three apple and 2 pear trees, I over did it and ended up without one single fruit this past summer, so from now on I'll be very careful... It is true that the previous owners never pruned and I had also let them go for years but overdoing it can really hurt the harvest big time. :/

 

[backtorootsfarm]

Thanks! I was looking up on google but most trees shown were just planted or very large mature trees not about at 7 year old tree I will keep looking thanks for the info.

 

[catjac1975]

Here is the best pruner I ever have had. It comes electric or battery. I got the electric because I thought it would weigh less. I LOVE IT. Many companies make similar items.
http://www.blackanddecker.com/outdoor/LP1000.aspx
When pruning overgrown fruit trees, cut 1/3 of the tree at a time per year. Open the center to encourage good air flow. Prune when the tree is dormant but, cutting damaged branches can be at any time. All suckers can be removed at any time. I put a wheelbarrow full of manure under each fruit tree every winter. My trees seem to give a bumper crop every other year. An early season strong wind can reduce your crop. A bee keeper told me that his bees would increase yield dramatically, though I have never tried them.I must say I do not see many bees during fruit blossom season. In NE we need limestone added to the soil every other year. I am also a firm believer in the use of greensand.