AndyJ

Thanks everyone. I definitely don’t want to fell it. I also understand that anything that I do too aggressively could lead to its more rapid decline. I’ll have a go at taking a little off the top and thinning a bit, but where I’m most confused is the large amount of dead wood at the front of the tree. If you look at where the trunk branches into three, there is only any live growth from the one at the back. So the majority of the front of the tree is brittle dead branches and twigs. How much of this should I remove? Or do I need to be conservative in removing this dead wood as well? I plan to get my ladders out later and make a start, so I can send updated photos or do this cautiously, step by step. Thanks again for any further advice you may have. Andy

My very old pear tree is on its last legs. I’d like to cut it back significantly for less shade and less bird droppings on vegetables below. I’d prefer to let it die gracefully rather than cut it down altogether. Any advice on what and where to cut? Photos Many thanks, Andy