How to Prune Apple & Pear Trees
Most apple and pear trees must be pruned at regular intervals throughout their life, but only ball-wrapped or bare-rooted apple and pear trees need to be pruned at first planting. All apple and pear trees need regular pruning once they start giving fruit, but will do much better with frequent light pruning instead of pruning back thick branches that have been allowed to grow too long. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Pruing Apple and Pear Trees
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Prune apple and pear trees at first planting by trimming off all weak or broken branches. Cut the top 1/4 off the main branch and cut all strong branches back by half their length.
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Prune apple and pear trees again once they begin giving fruit by pruning off all broken and weak branches flush to the main branch, as well as snapping or pruning all suckers from the trunk and roots as soon as they begin to sprout.
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Cut all branches cleanly, either close to the main branch or just above a bud, making sure to cut above a bud that is growing towards the outside of the tree. Cut the branches at a slightly angled position but not at such a deep angle that you leave an elongated, exposed wound.
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Saw limbs that are too thick to cut by making a bottom cut 10-15 inches from the trunk going about 1/3 the thickness of the limb deep. Saw a top cut several inches up from the first cut, going all the way through the limb.
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Saw the left-over stub of the branch off flush with the main truck, making sure you don't scar the trunk itself. Since the weight and length of the branch has been removed, it will be easier and safer to cut whether you are using a hand saw or a telescoping tree pruner. Use a sharp, sterilized knife to gently carve off any ragged edges and paint with a tree wound dressing.
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Tips & Warnings
When trimming back branches, trim just above a bud that is pointing towards the outside of the tree. Buds facing toward the main truck will grow that way, which can interfere with production.
Repaint not just pruning wounds, but all wounds with wound dressing every year until the branch is completely healed.
Pruning the top main branches produces a tree that is low and spread out, pruning side branches forces the tree to grow upwards in a less bushy manner. This type of shaping will allow more sunlight to get in and will also allow more air to circulate, which will help keep mildew and disease to a minimum.
Apple and pear trees bare heavy fruit that weighs branches down. Prune these trees to have a strong center branch, with well spaced branches forming wide angles.
