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Pruning and general advice for Obelisk Pear Trees (columnar/pyramidal)
January Man
Posts: 212
in Fruit & veg
Hi all
I posted recently for advice about how to prune apple and pear trees. Thanks for the replies there. I think I am understanding it all now.
However, one of my pear tree is an Obelisk; which Blackmoors (where i bought it from) describes as a columnar/pyramidal tree. Should I prune this in the same way as the others, which are being done with a central leader? Or do columnar/pyramidal trees have totally different requirements?
Here's a pic of how it looks at the moment. 
Any advice about this (or any general advice about these types of trees) would be very helpful and most appreciated.
Cheers
Max
0
Posts
Hi
Sorry to be hasty but just bumping this to see if I can get any advice before I go out and make a hash of it! I'm finding it difficult to find much info on pruning these types of trees.
I should add that I contacted Blackmoors (where I bought it from) and they said it does not need pruning. It CAN be pruned if a particular shape is required, but otherwise it does not need any pruning. I don't know much about it but just felt it look a bit too dense and overcrowded for its own good. Would people here agree that it does not necessarily need pruning or do you think Blackmoors might be wrong on this occasion?
Many thanks
I agree with the suppliers, it doesn't need pruning. Pruning at this time of the year encourages growth.
In the summer, trim back any branches which are growing too long or in a direction you don't want to just above a leaf joint. This will also promote the formation of spurs from which blossom and fruit will form next spring.