| > | | | | How to prune pear trees - Older trees |
| In this article you will find out how to prune pear | | | | On older trees which have been spur-pruned |
| trees. Pruning pear trees can be done several | | | | rather too thoroughly, it will be of benefit to |
| ways. | | | | reduce drastically the amount of fruiting wood, |
| The pruning of pear trees, in the early stages, | | | | and cutting back branches to produce new |
| follows the same pattern as that for apples. | | | | growth is advisable. Renewal pruning, as for |
| Basically, the treatment of established bushes, in a | | | | apples, is practiced, bearing in mind that more |
| garden, is also the same for pears and apples. | | | | wood may be removed, without producing |
| There are, however, a few points to which | | | | excessive new growth. |
| attention should be drawn. | | | | How to prune pear trees - Varieties |
| How to prune pear trees - General | | | | Varietal Habit is a factor to consider, for certain |
| Pears, generally, will stand harder pruning than | | | | pears have a much more erect habit of growth |
| apples without being forced into excessive wood | | | | than apples. This is particularly noticeable in |
| growth. Bush trees should be encouraged to form | | | | Doyenne du Cornice, Fertility and Conference, |
| a sturdy framework of branches by moderately | | | | when hard pruned. When pruning branch leaders |
| hard pruning during the early years. Three or 4 | | | | to a bud for extension growth, it is better to |
| suitably placed branches are pruned to produce 6 | | | | prune to a bud above the outward-pointing one |
| or 8 further branches from 2 well-positioned buds, | | | | required. This outward-pointing bud will then grow |
| this process can be repeated in thefollowing year. | | | | out at a wider angle, the unwanted portion being |
| Once the basic framework of the tree has been | | | | removed later. |
| established, pruning should be lighter until the tree | | | | Other varieties, such as Catillac and Beurre |
| begins to bear. | | | | d'Amanlis, also Conference when lightly pruned, |
| As pears generally tend to spur up more freely | | | | have a spreading tendency, and it may be better |
| than apples, once the trees have started cropping | | | | to prune to an upward bud, or even to a bud |
| it will be necessary to thin out the spur systems | | | | above the upward one required, removing the |
| frequently, to encourage new wood growth. | | | | unwanted portion later, as before. |