How to Properly Prune a Just-Planted Pear Tree? See Several Different Examples - PART 2 of 4

The first pruning of a just-planted fruit tree is essential for the lifetime health and productivity of the tree. In this video, Orin Martin reviews the shape of the tree to determine what shape, either "open center" or " modified central leader", best suites the structure of the tree.
PART 1 of 4: • How to Properly Prune ...
PART 3 of 4: • How to Properly Prune ...
PART 4 of 4: • How to Properly Prune ...
DON'T MISS Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: www.amazon.com/Fruit-Trees-Ev...

[@FM-Patriot]

What a difference from when you started! Thanks for the knowledge!

[@ucscagroecology]

Glad it was helpful! Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”:
agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html

[@arabellalunkes4532]

Fantastic info!!! Thank you so much!

[@ucscagroecology]

Hi Arabella, great to hear the video was helpful. Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”:
agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html
Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: www.amazon.com/Fruit-Trees-Every-Garden-Approach/dp/0399580026/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N8Y1MP3KB6DZ&keywords=orin+martin&qid=1650397395&s=books&sprefix=orin+martin%2Cstripbooks%2C522&sr=1-1

[@FynbosGarden]

A pleasure to watch. This man has an elegant grasp of English and is a first class communicator

[@ucscagroecology]

Agreed! We're all fortunate that Orin is now so widely available through these videos. In his own words, "I barely made it out of high school", so he's mostly self taught and his communication skills are eloquent and very informative.

[@gregmihalik9027]

You’re my new favorite person

[@RRR-hj6bt]

I started an “air layer” pear two years ago. Last fall it was planted. This summer with over 2 months to go it has grown 7 feet so far. 1 Central leader and thats it. I haven't staked it but probably will this winter. Do you have any pruning ideas? None seem to fit this particular scenario.

[@cbak1819]

Hi! I planted 2 apple trees last fall in Zone 6. I only pruned off dead wood. Now it is 3 weeks before last frost. Do I prune now, Or wait to see vegetative growth?
1 honey crisp, 1 mac. I'd like 6 " trees. Thanks for all the details, wisdom and understanding.

[@ucscagroecology]

Best to prune now before any vegetative growth begins. Glad the information is helpful. Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: a.co/d/glwePid
And here’s the playlist for all of the tree care videos: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9ioGcl7gHgc&list=PLdNOdHei9NV0QjOJDbUTx6wgD-qkiNGah

[@matthewanderson2538]

If you were going to prune that tree to a central leader. Would you remove all the lower branches instead. Im growing fruit trees for deer mainly and dont want my tree to branch until about 6 ft. Im.jist not sure if i should prune them all.off in the beginning or allow them to grow a year so i dont stress the tree ao much.

[@ucscagroecology]

You've got an unusual pruning requirement there....deer. You can just let the deer eat back the branches to the height they can reach, which will probably be around 6 feet. I've seen apple trees that have been "deer pruned" and it locates all of the fruit at a level that will require the use of ladders for pruning and picking. If you're fine with working from ladders, then the height won't be an issue. If not, the best solution is a 8 foot tall fence durable enough to keep out the deer.
Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: a.co/d/glwePid
And here’s the playlist for all of the tree care videos: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9ioGcl7gHgc&list=PLdNOdHei9NV0QjOJDbUTx6wgD-qkiNGah

[@davesally17]

Does just planted mean literally as soon as you plant it

[@ucscagroecology]

Yes. You can even prune a bare root tree before you plant it. In this video, Orin prunes several bare root trees before planting: th-cam.com/video/05EEXRRxUZY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xa7eL3PvhEIDfAm9&t=332