How to Prune Bradford Pear Trees in October

Bradford pear trees commonly produce vertical shoots and branches that can cause the tree to become top heavy. The vertical branches are not structurally sound, and will easily split in high winds or a storm. The best time to prune a Bradford pear tree is in the winter when the tree is dormant, or in the spring before the tree begins putting out new growth. However, if your tree has experienced damage due to a fall storm, you can prune it in October.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Cut off any branches that are broken or split due to high winds, an early frost, or any other reason. Cut them back to the trunk.

2. Remove any dead branches. If you are unsure if the branch is dead, scratch it with your fingernail to remove the outer bark. The inner bark should be white or green if it is alive. If not, remove the branch.

3. Cut back any branches that show signs of blight. Cut them back to 6 inches under the affected branch area.

4. Remove any branches that are interfering with your safety, such as branches that are touching the house, or low branches that could fall on your car. Cut these back to within 1 foot of the trunk.

References

• AR Home and Garden: Trees, Bradford Pear
• Louisiana State University: Pruning Bradford Pears