Pruning pear trees

[Achtertuin]

I just registered; forgive me if this has been covered in previous threads.

We recently moved into a city house in Amsterdam NL with a small garden with, among other things, two pear trees. These trees, it seems, have not been pruned since they were planted (5 years ago?).

I'm waiting until the end of February, after the risk of frost has passed, to start pruning, but I'm not sure how much I can cut without damaging the trees. They need a lot of pruning.

I should say that, this past fall, one of the trees produced a lot of smallish, delicious pears; the other one lost all its fruit weeks before it ripened.

What can I do to treat these trees right?

thanks for your advice.

[Newt]

Hi Achertuin,

Congratulations on your new home! Here's a site that shows how to prune fruit trees.

http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/librar...p?linknum=1914

See if this site is any help with the pear tree that isn't blooming.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/champai...rs/000122.html

Do let us know if this isn't helpful.
Best of luck,
Newt

[Achtertuin]

Thanks, Newt. The pruning guide looks great. I'll give it a go later this month.

Gary

[Newt]

Gary, you are very welcome. Hope you get lots of pears this year. I just love poached pears! :D

Newt