Pear tree trimming

[Rustington]

Hi,

does this pear tree need cutting back a bit or should it be left alone?

(it’s just in front of the shed bottom right, so I guess about 10 meters tall)

[Mark Bolam]

It’s been hammered before.

 

If you don’t reduce those slender leaders at some point you might have problems, regrowth is never as well attached as naturally grown limbs.

[sime42]

I'd say it needs cutting back a fair amount. If nothing else, I'd want it to be within feasible picking height for the fruit.

 

By the look of the structure of the tree it's been cut back rather too aggressively in the past, and then over-compensated with regrowth. It'll need a carefully staged gradual reduction this time to avoid that happening again.

 

[Rustington]

9 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

It’s been hammered before.

 

If you don’t reduce those slender leaders at some point you might have problems, regrowth is never as well attached as naturally grown limbs.

The vertical ones at the top I assume you mean.

 

Is that all you would suggest cutting back?

[Rustington]

8 minutes ago, sime42 said:

I'd say it needs cutting back a fair amount. If nothing else, I'd want it to be within feasible picking height for the fruit.

 

By the look of the structure of the tree it's been cut back rather too aggressively in the past, and then over-compensated with regrowth. It'll need a carefully staged gradual reduction this time to avoid that happening again.

 

We have owned it for 4 years and not cut it back at all. Ironically, the previous owner was a tree surgeon.

 

The tree is too high to really pick anything. They are firm pears and so often good even after the fall.

[Mark Bolam]

50 minutes ago, Rustington said:

The vertical ones at the top I assume you mean.

 

Is that all you would suggest cutting back?

 

I would bring the ‘shoulders’ in as well.