Cutting pear trees: tips and tricks from the experts

Pear trees have an impressive growth. However, this includes pruning the pear tree regularly. You can find out what needs to be considered here.

Pear trees have a very characteristic and graceful growth with age. Often, however, the heavy sagging of the old, gnarled branches is the result of inadequate pruning of the pear trees. Your pear tree will thank you with more abundant harvests and a longer pear tree life in your garden if you prune it regularly. We'll show you how it works and give you valuable tips on how to proceed when pruning pear trees.

When to cut the pear tree

As with apple trees and many wide fruit trees, it is advisable to have pear trees in winter (January to April) or in summer (June to August) with a shaping and soothing cut make happy.

The same applies to the pear tree that the base used determines the growth behavior of the pear tree. You should therefore always inquire whether the underlay you are using is a weakly or strongly growing one - good specialist staff should be able to provide you with help and advice. Once you have found out about this, you should remember the following principles:

• Cut pear trees on weakly growing roots in winter
  With a winter pruning, the new growth of pear trees that have been grafted on a weakly growing base is promoted. A cut in summer would rob the weakly growing tree too much of its energy. As a result, the fruits hanging on the tree could possibly no longer be adequately supplied with assimilates that originate from the photosynthesis taking place in the leaves.
• Pruning pear trees on a strongly growing base in summer
  If a fast-growing pear tree is cut in winter, its budding and growth are also promoted. As a result, growth would be uncontrolled and the tree would lose its shape. A controlled cut in summer, on the other hand, can curb the already strong growth. A summer pruning is also a good idea if a little too much was pruned in winter and the new shoots are clearly too abundant.

How to cut a pear tree correctly: instructions

As already mentioned, pear trees can stand out with their very special growth shape in old age. The branches grow comparatively close to the trunk - in the first few years towards the sky, as they grow older they slope more towards the ground. Even if this growth form seems enchanted and graceful, it is rather undesirable. With the right pruning, a pear tree should have a broad crown with horizontally growing branches. The following must therefore be observed when cutting a pear tree:

• Shorten the crown regularly and always remove competing shoots
• Shorten shoots that grow downwards
• Remove dead wood
• Strong leading branches can be shortened generously in winter pruning. The new shoots must then be cut selectively and without fear in summer - up to two thirds of the new shoots can give way
• Always remove old fruit-bearing wood
• If necessary, cut out stronger branches as they get older if they take too much light from the rest of the tree

These products are ideal for cutting your shrubs, hedges and trees:

• Felco secateurs: Manual pruning, pruning and pruning shears recommended for all types of cutting. In addition to plastic-coated handles, it has a precision adjustment system for the blade and anvil blade.
• Felco fruit tree and secateurs: Robust fruit tree and secateurs with wire cutter, sap groove and micrometer adjustment.
• Gardena telescopic arm scissors: Practical secateurs for effortless cutting of tall trees and dense shrubs from the ground.

Pruning young pear trees: this is important

The foundation for proper growth is laid at a young age. It is the same with pear trees. In order to maintain good growth in the long term, a pear tree must be pruned correctly early on.

Plant pruning at the pear tree

• Determine three to four side shoots as leading branches. Cut off the remaining branches directly on the trunk
• Shorten side shoots and thus promote branching of the shoots established as leading branches
• Shorten the main shoot and thus promote the formation of the crown

Parenting cut at the pear tree

• Always cut out branches that are competing with the main shoot
• Always cut out shoots that shoot upwards
• Shorten or cut out shoots growing towards the ground
• Shorten the leading branches, but do not shorten the side shoots emerging from the leading branches

With these tips, the upbringing of a young pear tree should succeed and a beautiful, healthy and productive growth habit can be achieved. If you want to know more about the Planting a pear tree you can read on here.

Do you still have Apple tree, Cherry tree, Plum tree and or Peach tree in your garden that also want to be cut? Then read about how to do this in our special article Pruning fruit trees properly should.