The top 5-6 feet of one of my Asian Pear trees broke off yesterday. It
wasn't that badly loaded with fruit, but we did have some high winds, and I
think the combination of wind and fruit load was just too much for it. It
broke off at about 5 1/2 feet above the ground. There are several good
branches growing below the break, but it was the main vertical growing stem
that broke. Pics he

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6258.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6257.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6260.JPG

Any tree experts care to comment on whether the tree is worth keeping? I can
take some more pics if there are any particular angles you want to see.
There are several sturdy branches growing out, but the main stem snapped.
I'd like to save the tree if possible as the fruit is much sweeter then any
of my other asian pears. Is it possible to graft a branch onto the broken
stem so that it can continue to grow upwards? Or is the tree likely to do
well if I just leave it as is and let the remaining branches grow out?

Zootal wrote:
The top 5-6 feet of one of my Asian Pear trees broke off yesterday. It
wasn't that badly loaded with fruit, but we did have some high winds, and I
think the combination of wind and fruit load was just too much for it. It
broke off at about 5 1/2 feet above the ground. There are several good
branches growing below the break, but it was the main vertical growing stem
that broke. Pics he

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6258.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6257.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6260.JPG

Any tree experts care to comment on whether the tree is worth keeping? I can
take some more pics if there are any particular angles you want to see.
There are several sturdy branches growing out, but the main stem snapped.
I'd like to save the tree if possible as the fruit is much sweeter then any
of my other asian pears. Is it possible to graft a branch onto the broken
stem so that it can continue to grow upwards? Or is the tree likely to do
well if I just leave it as is and let the remaining branches grow out?




I would just cut it off clean at the break and see what happens. It
should sprout several new leaders and next year you can pick one and cut
the others off. Or keep it pruned like a peach tree with no leader
(that might look weird.)

IIRC, Asian pears are resistant to fire blight, so you shouldn't have to
worry about that from the open wound.

Bob

"Zootal" wrote in message
...
The top 5-6 feet of one of my Asian Pear trees broke off yesterday. It
wasn't that badly loaded with fruit, but we did have some high winds, and
I think the combination of wind and fruit load was just too much for it.
It broke off at about 5 1/2 feet above the ground. There are several good
branches growing below the break, but it was the main vertical growing
stem that broke. Pics he

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6258.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6257.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6260.JPG

Any tree experts care to comment on whether the tree is worth keeping? I
can take some more pics if there are any particular angles you want to
see. There are several sturdy branches growing out, but the main stem
snapped. I'd like to save the tree if possible as the fruit is much
sweeter then any of my other asian pears. Is it possible to graft a branch
onto the broken stem so that it can continue to grow upwards? Or is the
tree likely to do well if I just leave it as is and let the remaining
branches grow out?

Your pictures made me laugh... two of just the break are funny but
especially the one of the broken branch dying on the ground. Why pray tell
didn't you take a picture of the *entire* tree (including where the trunk
meets the ground), then one could tell the approximate age of the tree but
more importantly what percentage of the tree the break constitutes. It
appears that the branch broke because it probably should have been partially
removed with normal pruning. There doesn't appear to be a thing wrong with
your tree, it looks perfectly healthy. Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one leader on
a fruit tree anyway). And get yourself some information on when and how to
keep your pear tree pruned, it's very important to prune fruit trees to keep
them structurally strong.. Pear trees need a pollinator, is this your only
pear tree or are there others nearby? Also, don't leave that broken branch
anywhere near your tree, best to burn it.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/857/

Zootal wrote:
The top 5-6 feet of one of my Asian Pear trees broke off yesterday. It
wasn't that badly loaded with fruit, but we did have some high winds,
and I think the combination of wind and fruit load was just too much
for it. It broke off at about 5 1/2 feet above the ground. There are
several good branches growing below the break, but it was the main
vertical growing stem that broke. Pics he

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6258.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6257.JPG
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2009/...s/DSCF6260.JPG

Any tree experts care to comment on whether the tree is worth
keeping? I can take some more pics if there are any particular angles
you want to see. There are several sturdy branches growing out, but
the main stem snapped. I'd like to save the tree if possible as the
fruit is much sweeter then any of my other asian pears. Is it
possible to graft a branch onto the broken stem so that it can
continue to grow upwards? Or is the tree likely to do well if I just
leave it as is and let the remaining branches grow out?

I am by no means a tree expert but I have a large productive orchard. I
would cut it off and let it regrow. There is every chance the tree will
fully recover in time.

David

brooklyn1 wrote:
Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one leader on
a fruit tree anyway).

I disagree with your comment about having multiple leaders on fruit
trees. A single leader is the way to go. It will give the tree a
much better shape whenever it grows back.

And get yourself some information on when and how to
keep your pear tree pruned, it's very important to prune fruit trees to keep
them structurally strong.. Pear trees need a pollinator, is this your only
pear tree or are there others nearby?

I think he said this was his tastiest Asian pear tree. He must have
others.

Sherwin

Also, don't leave that broken branch
anywhere near your tree, best to burn it.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/857/

"sherwin dubren" wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one leader
on a fruit tree anyway).

I disagree with your comment about having multiple leaders on fruit
trees. A single leader is the way to go. It will give the tree a
much better shape whenever it grows back.

Well you are just plain wrong. Fruit trees need to be shaped to make them
capable of bearing the weight of their crop, and should have as open a
structure as possible to allow them to receive maximum light and enable
easier harvesting, there should be no central leader. All trees require
pruning for structural soundness but especially crop trees. The OP's single
spindely leader fractured for one reason and one reason only, it was too
long and too thin making it incapable of bearing the weight of the pears.
If one wants a specimen tree with a "better shape" then there are plenty of
ornamental pear trees to choose from. You've obviously never visited a
fruit tree orchard.

brooklyn1 wrote:
"sherwin dubren" wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one leader
on a fruit tree anyway).
I disagree with your comment about having multiple leaders on fruit
trees. A single leader is the way to go. It will give the tree a
much better shape whenever it grows back.

Well you are just plain wrong. Fruit trees need to be shaped to make them
capable of bearing the weight of their crop, and should have as open a
structure as possible to allow them to receive maximum light and enable
easier harvesting, there should be no central leader. All trees require
pruning for structural soundness but especially crop trees. The OP's single
spindely leader fractured for one reason and one reason only, it was too
long and too thin making it incapable of bearing the weight of the pears.
If one wants a specimen tree with a "better shape" then there are plenty of
ornamental pear trees to choose from. You've obviously never visited a
fruit tree orchard.



As a matter of fact, I have over 20 fruit trees in my yard. I have
only lost one leader in my experience because I did not thin it
adequately. I do agree with you on pruning a fruit tree to bear
the weight of their crop, such as removing branches with a small
crotch angle, etc. However, letting a tree 'grow wild' without
a leader is not a good idea. If a leader is overburdened with
fruit, it should be thinned.

Just to keep this as short a reply as possible, I will refer you to
one of many references on pruning fruit trees:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/h...9.html#central

from the University of North Carolina Extension Service.


Sherwin

"sherwin dubren" wrote in message
...
brooklyn1 wrote:
"sherwin dubren" wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one
leader on a fruit tree anyway).
I disagree with your comment about having multiple leaders on fruit
trees. A single leader is the way to go. It will give the tree a
much better shape whenever it grows back.

Well you are just plain wrong. Fruit trees need to be shaped to make
them capable of bearing the weight of their crop, and should have as open
a structure as possible to allow them to receive maximum light and enable
easier harvesting, there should be no central leader. All trees require
pruning for structural soundness but especially crop trees. The OP's
single spindely leader fractured for one reason and one reason only, it
was too long and too thin making it incapable of bearing the weight of
the pears. If one wants a specimen tree with a "better shape" then there
are plenty of ornamental pear trees to choose from. You've obviously
never visited a fruit tree orchard.



As a matter of fact, I have over 20 fruit trees in my yard.

Show me just twenty.

I have only lost one leader in my experience because I did not thin it
adequately. I do agree with you on pruning a fruit tree to bear
the weight of their crop, such as removing branches with a small
crotch angle, etc. However, letting a tree 'grow wild' without
a leader is not a good idea.

If a leader is overburdened with fruit, it should be thinned. [Well, DUH]

Just to keep this as short a reply as possible, I will refer you to
one of many references on pruning fruit trees:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/h...9.html#central

from the University of North Carolina Extension Service.




Seems you have personal issues with *control*. If you know so much about
fruit trees nothing prevented you from offering advice in a timely manner
directly to the OP rather than lurk about for an opportunity to argue with
and snipe at others advice. Have you even looked at your own reference, it
totally disagrees with you. And in fact you make absolutely no sense
whatsoever, you even argue with yourself. Duh

brooklyn1 wrote:
"sherwin dubren" wrote in message
...
brooklyn1 wrote:
"sherwin dubren" wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
Prune the broken branch back to the
crotch and allow a new leader to form (there shouldn't be just one
leader on a fruit tree anyway).
I disagree with your comment about having multiple leaders on fruit
trees. A single leader is the way to go. It will give the tree a
much better shape whenever it grows back.
Well you are just plain wrong. Fruit trees need to be shaped to make
them capable of bearing the weight of their crop, and should have as open
a structure as possible to allow them to receive maximum light and enable
easier harvesting, there should be no central leader. All trees require
pruning for structural soundness but especially crop trees. The OP's
single spindely leader fractured for one reason and one reason only, it
was too long and too thin making it incapable of bearing the weight of
the pears. If one wants a specimen tree with a "better shape" then there
are plenty of ornamental pear trees to choose from. You've obviously
never visited a fruit tree orchard.



As a matter of fact, I have over 20 fruit trees in my yard.

Show me just twenty.

I have only lost one leader in my experience because I did not thin it
adequately. I do agree with you on pruning a fruit tree to bear
the weight of their crop, such as removing branches with a small
crotch angle, etc. However, letting a tree 'grow wild' without
a leader is not a good idea.

If a leader is overburdened with fruit, it should be thinned. [Well, DUH]

Just to keep this as short a reply as possible, I will refer you to
one of many references on pruning fruit trees:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/h...9.html#central

from the University of North Carolina Extension Service.




Seems you have personal issues with *control*. If you know so much about
fruit trees nothing prevented you from offering advice in a timely manner
directly to the OP rather than lurk about for an opportunity to argue with
and snipe at others advice. Have you even looked at your own reference, it
totally disagrees with you. And in fact you make absolutely no sense
whatsoever, you even argue with yourself. Duh

You are just throwing a bunch of words around, not specifying what
your point is. I think my posting was very clear. Just how am I
arguing with myself?

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, just keeping the record
straight. If you are putting out incorrect information, I feel
obligated to correct you.

As far as the reference, it clearly indicates how to maintain a leader
on a fruit tree, which you say should not be done. Try re-reading it.

Sherwin