Select four or five laterals that will comprise the main fruiting platform.This winter pruning session is important because it defines the tree’s basic structure. Cut back the other laterals already present by about a third.This will encourage the tree to grow lateral branches at the right height. After planting in winter, cut back the central leader to about a metre height, cutting just above a wood bud.
A 1-year old pear tree will probably have just two or three lateral branches. Things become easier if you delay winter pruning until mid-March. This is partly due to the fact that in winter it may not be easy to see the difference between wood bud and fruit bud. It can be difficult to get a pear tree into production early. Watch a video about how to prune a pear tree to retain its correct shape. Therefore, whichever training system is chosen – free-standing trees, espalier or fan – it is essential that full-strength light can reach right into the centre of the pear tree. In pears, top quality light is essential for regular cropping. Pear trees are naturally less vigorous than apple trees, and so they can be pruned more lightly than apple trees. These points have to be taken into consideration when trimming pear trees. Pears are less subject to breaking heavily-cropping branches, because the wood is hard and strong. On the other hand, compared to apple trees, pear trees crop well on vertical branches, especially when the trees are older. There are far fewer growth-controlling rootstock available for pears – most pear trees are budded or grafted onto Quince A or Quince C rootstock. Many pear tree varieties tend to grow more upright than apple trees, and they are often slower to come into production. 
Pruning pear trees is very different when compared to pruning apple trees.
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