How to Grow a Pear Tree in the Shape of an Arch
Pear trees are often trained into interesting forms. They make handsome specimen trees, and most varieties even lend themselves to espalier training. This type of training allows a plant to be trimmed and tied so it grows flat against a wall as a surface cover. This method can be adapted to train a pear tree to grow in the shape of an arch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Strong-framed arch
- 1 or 2 dwarf or semi-dwarf pear trees
- Soft, flexible ties
- Pruning shears
Instructions
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Choose a solid, well-built arch that can handle weather and the weight of a growing tree. Place the arch in full sun and set it on healthy soil with good drainage.
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Select a dwarf or semi-dwarf pear variety that grows well in your climate. Look for a specimen with fewer and longer shoots rather than multiple short branches.
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Plant your chosen pear tree at the base of one side of your arch.
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Select the three longest flexible branches from your pear tree and tie them to the vertical supports of the archway. Use a soft, stretchy material, such as horticultural tape, to tie the branches in place.
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Using sharp snippers, trim back any low branches that head out horizontally. Continue to trim branches as necessary until the main branch gets established.
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Tie these vertical growing branches to the curve of the archway every 6 to 10 inches as it continues to grow. Occasional side branches can now be left as the plant matures, but keep them pruned back so they don’t extend more than a few feet beyond the side of the archway where the main shoots are growing.
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Train the main shoots of your pear tree to bend slightly over the top of the arch. Do not expect the branches to grow downward on the other side. If you want both sides of your arch to be flanked, plant another tree on the opposite side of the arch. If you use two trees, allow the top branches to intertwine as they cross over the top of the arch.
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Tips & Warnings
In time, you can remove the arch if you have trained two pear trees to form a strong arch of their own. Leave the arch for support for single pear tree archways.
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
