Evaluate and Recommend...

[Bowsnbucks]

I haven't studied pears nearly as much as apples and crabs. I don't want to lead anyone astray with bad info on pears. We only have 3 pear trees at my camp and they are pretty much doing their own thing. 2 Kieffers and a Morse hybrid. There are guys on here who grow pears, and have for years - I'd listen to them on the pear info. Apples and crabs I have experience with and research on. Pears ....... no. Sorry I can't be of more help on the pears.

 

[Catscratch]

The wife brought home a bag of clothes pins today :) Looks like I'm going to learn how to train crotch angles!

 

[Buckly]

Ok, so on my newly planted apple trees there is new growth from the top of the tree all the way to the ground on some. Should all that lower growth be pinched off? When and where do you start the lower branches. Most of the growth isn't above the 5 foot cages yet

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Are they just whips now - no branches ?? If so, just let them grow and form their own branches. The pinching-off of some of the shoots like in the pic on post#12 is after the branches form and a central leader has been established - usually in year 2 after planting. It may be a couple years before your trees grow & develop enough to be able to prune off the lowest limbs to have your final, lowest scaffold limbs be at the 5 ft. or above mark.

When I planted our trees, I just let them grow with all their leaves and shoots the first year to maximize photosynthesis for growing the trees and establishing their root systems. I didn't want to jeopardize the strength of the trees while just getting established.

 

[Buckly]

Thanks. that answers my question. Although there is lots of new growth under the rodent screen protection. I guess I will have to remove the screen and prune next year.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Buckly - Yep. That's what I've done. The 2nd year I just remove ( or slide up or down as needed ) the screen and pinch or snip the leaves and buds off that were under the screen. I still get some new growth under our screens after 3rd or 4th leaf ( years in the ground ). I just repeat the process if it's needed. New growth under the screens seems to slow down or stop after a couple years and the tree gets taller. That's my experience anyway !!

EDIT: The less oddball growth down low on the tree lets more energy for upward growth.