Fruitless, flowering pears are grown not for their harvest but for their springtime display, hardiness, ease of maintenance and beautiful shape. Once the trees have flowered, annual pruning is recommended to keep the trees healthy, attractive and safe for many years to come.
Cut off any limbs that are broken or damaged; if left on the tree, these can eventually fall and hurt someone or damage something. If necessary, use a saw to make a three-way cut on the branch to bring it down safely, without tearing the bark.
Remove limbs that are dead or dying; these will eventually become brittle and fall.
Eliminate diseased branches by pruning them after the flowering pears have become dormant. After the leaves have fallen, look over the branches for fire blight, a bacterial disease which gives the tree sticky, oozing cankers. Remove all affected branches from the tree, dipping the pruning shears into a bleach and water solution between each cut. Remove cut branches and dispose of them.
Prune branches that are crowded or clustered on one side of the central leader; this includes limbs that are within 15 inches of each other. Flowering pear limbs can become heavy after five years, and then easily break off in the wind. Look for branches that are crossed or rubbing together; remove one of them.
Thin branches that are prohibiting proper light filtration and air circulation in the flowering pear tree. Trim tight clusters of leafy stems back if needed to reduce overcrowding inside the tree canopy.
Trim off stems that protrude from the trunk of the tree below the lowest branches, as well as any root suckers growing from the ground or at the base of the tree. Follow the trunk upward to remove any unnecessary stems attempting to establish themselves around the main branches; these will compete for water and nutrients.
Things You Will Need
- Pruning shears
- Ladder (if necessary)
- Depending on the variety of flowering pear, they are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 or 5, up to zone 10.
- Most branches on flowering pears -- such as the Bradford pear -- growing at less than a 45-degree angle from the tree should be removed, as these will be weaker and grow heavier with tree maturity.
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