Pruning - Annual light pruning for your pear tree in the late winter is good for it. Cut away any dead branches and any branches rubbing against each other. Remove enough wood to induce new shoot growth. Cut out any shoots that are growing vertically, parallel to the trunk. Make clean cuts with sharp pruners or a saw. Do not leave any stubs where branches were cut off.

Consult a book on pruning for more details on how to prune a pear tree to what is called a “central leader” form for the first few years, then prune it to a “modified leader” form. Pear trees are generally planted as one-year-old whips, which are already pruned back to 30 inches. At the end of the first summer, remove all except three evenly spaced branches. Each year, cut these back moderately, leaving three or four shoots to make secondary branches. Once the tree comes into bearing, only minor pruning is necessary.

Winter Protection - Only minimal winter protection is necessary for hardy pear trees. Young tree trunks should be wrapped to discourage mice and rabbits. Lay down winter mulch only after the ground has frozen to deny them a cozy winter nest.

Spray Program - In late winter, at least 3 weeks before the leaf buds begin to show, spray the entire tree with dormant oil (2 1/2 ounces for each gallon of water) to suffocate over-wintering pests such as aphids, mites and scale. Do not spray when the temperatures are below 40°F.