Pear pruning is an essential practice to ensure that this fruit tree produces quality and long-lasting health, as well as has a pleasant aesthetic appearance. To obtain the typical sweet and juicy fruits of the pear tree, it is necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the needs of this plant, the most suitable pruning techniques and the right tools to carry out effective interventions and, at the same time, respectful of its well-being.
In particular, it is essential to have professional tools to carry out a professional pruning. Campagnola offers you a whole range of proposals that are essential for optimal results. For perfect pruning, you can opt for the precision of our hand tools, or for the manoeuvrability of our electric tools with plug-in battery, or for the power of professional electric solutions with backpack battery or pneumatic, designed for intensive operations. Let’s delve into the topic of pear pruning and find out how to perform it effectively!
When to prune the pear tree? The two main periods
Planning pear tree pruning means knowing in depth the variety of plant in front of you, its specific needs and those of the soil and territory in which it grows. Generally, there are two pear pruning periods throughout the year, each with specific objectives and particular techniques. It is important to know these periods to intervene at the most appropriate time and ensure maximum benefit for the tree.
Winter pruning of the pear tree is carried out in its vegetative rest period (from autumn until the end of winter or early spring) and aims to eliminate dry or damaged branches, favouring the future growth of new shoots and allowing the plant to arrive in full shape for the vegetative and fruiting season. Green pruning of the pear tree, on the other hand, is carried out during spring or summer. Among its objectives are: to keep the fruiting thrust and vegetative development of the plant in balance, to improve the lighting and ventilation of the foliage (and, consequently, the quality of the fruit) and to prevent the onset of diseases or parasites.
Essentially it consists of the elimination of suckers, which subtract sap from the productive parts of the foliage, but also in the thinning of the fruiting branches and in the stable maintenance of the chosen form of training.
The importance of pear tree formation pruning
Over the course of its life, the pear tree undergoes different types of pruning, each with a specific purpose. Pear tree formation pruning (or breeding) is the essential one, because it allows the shape of the tree to be shaped in its first years of life, achieving the desired aesthetic and production purposes.
In addition, it facilitates subsequent harvesting and pruning operations and makes the plant more resistant to external stresses, such as atmospheric agents or attacks by pathogens. It is considered completed when the tree has reached 4-5 years after planting. Production pruning, on the other hand, is made to optimize the fruiting yield and can be carried out every year from when the plant enters its fruiting phase.
Techniques and species: the differences
Pear pruning can vary greatly depending on the techniques used and the species grown. The most common forms of breeding are the stem, the palmette and the low pot. What do they consist of? The stem is the simplest form of breeding and consists of leaving a main trunk, on which the branches are inserted at an angle of about 90 ° and without a precise order. It is a conical shape, which is close to the natural one of the pear trees and can provide abundant light to the foliage, with good results on the size and quality of the fruit.
- The palmette shape of the pear tree is slightly more complex, because two V-shaped side branches start from the main trunk and other V-shaped branches branch off from these. The shape resembles that of a folding fan, takes up more space than the trunk and is facilitated by the presence of pilings and supports in iron wire.
- In vase pruning of the pear tree, only 3 or 5 branches become the main branches, pruned to form an inverted cone.
- Finally, espalier pruning of the pear tree provides for the presence of supports, such as walls, scaffolding or nets, which can support the semi-horizontal growth of the main branches. Ideal in limited spaces, it must be kept stable thanks to adequate periodic pruning.
Techniques, periods and forms of pear cultivation also depend on its variety. For example, the William pear tree, which is particularly productive, requires trunk pruning that can stimulate the formation of twigs, the most suitable fruiting branches for this specific variety.
The abate pear tree, on the other hand, needs a palmette pruning, for the growth of twigs and mixed branches, the most suitable fruiting branches for this variety. Pruning the old pear tree also works best with a palmette shape, which can promote the formation of twigs and branches.
The thigh pear gives more results when it is carried out in a stem, while for the young pear tree it is better to prefer the palmetto. The kaiser pear produces well on sprigs and a stem pruning is therefore to be preferred.
Campagnola tools essential for pear tree pruning
For effective pear tree pruning, it is essential to get high-quality tools, which can make clean and burr-free cuts, as well as fast and with minimal effort for you who make them. Campagnola offers a range of tools designed to meet the needs of both professionals and enthusiasts.
Among these are manual options, such as shears, saws and loppers, useful for making the desired cuts with extreme precision. Those who want to work on pear branches with maximum freedom of movement can opt for plug-in battery electric solutions.
Among the most popular electric chain pruners powered by plug-in batteries are T-FOX and T-REX, both capable of cutting branches up to 10 cm in diameter. T-REX is also available in a version mounted on a telescopic extension pole. While the T-CAT M V1 is useful for making small cuts or finishing work, the plug-in battery shears from the GREEN Line, such as the STARK XM and STARK XL, have powerful blades, allowing you to cut through even the toughest branches. The VICTORY R pneumatic pruning shears, the STAR 50 pneumatic lopper (also in the F/6 U version with hooked blade) or the SUPER STAR DOUBLE-EDGED model are also perfect for pear pruning. Among the pneumatic chain pruners suitable for pear pruning there is undoubtedly LASER, which effortlessly cuts branches up to 20 cm in diameter, while KRONOS 58 is an extremely powerful electric option, suitable for pruning your fruit trees.
Would you like more information about pear pruning tools? Explore our website, or contact your nearest dealer: you can find it in the Sales Network section and get all the pre-sales advice and after-sales assistance you expect from a historic brand like Campagnola!