Gadge wrote in news:Gadge.8c32e16
@gardenbanter.co.uk:


Thanks for the replies!

I will do what you recommend, taking off some of the pears, pruning in
the winter branches that touch each other and improve the air flow.

Next thing is the grease bad. I did make one up a few years ago but not
sure if it done the trick, basically i wrapped denso tape around the
trunk and applied grease to it. Is that good enough?




Gadge,

THE most important thing is to take off one of a pair or trio of pears
which touch eachother. One pear on it's own. You will not look back.

If you were a grower intending to have a saleable crop then a grease band
would be needed. You have a tree which you need some pears off for your
family (and the pears won't keep for long)so you don't need one.

THE second most important as has been suggested in autumn is to get those
leaves and bad looking droppers collected up and in the compost heap. The
bad looking droppers will have what looks like white or creamy looking
spores on them and these pears can stay on the tree even after the
strongest winds. Knock them off with the clothes prop and get them in the
compost too.

THE third is pruning as has been suggested is to take out touching
branches, and also any of this years growth which go directly upwards.

You can't be too clumsy with this as you need quality not quantity, get rid
of anything you don't like the look of. Lop(or Pollard not quite right but
adequate terminology) it at the top if needed to keep the tree at a
managable height and keep on pruning until you die. The tree will live on.

Baz