During winter dead, diseased and damaged branches are removed from apples and pears. Additional pruning depends upon the tree form. Plums and cherries are not pruned in winter when a major disease, silver leaf is more prevalent.
Time
Prune mid- to late winter, avoiding frosty spells, while the tree is dormant.
Young apples and pears
Bush: On planting (winter) prune the leader above three or four strong sideshoots. Cut these sideshoots by one-third to a
well-placed bud, removing weaker shoots. Next winter reduce main branches by half and sideshoots to four or five buds. Remove unwanted growth.
Dwarf pyramid: On planting tip the leader and prune laterals to 12.5cm (5in), cutting to a well-placed bud. Next year treat the leader and new laterals as before, pruning sideshoots on one-year-old laterals to three buds.
Cordon and stepovers: On planting prune laterals to three or four buds, leaving the leader un-pruned.
Espaliers: On planting prune the leader to a strong bud. Subsequent winters tip selected laterals and the leader until all arms are formed.
Established apples and pears
Fruiting habit and general pruning: Apples are either spur-bearers or tip-bearers, whereas most pears are spur-bearers. Spur-bearers (fruit borne along branches) require lateral shortening to four to six buds and spur thinning. Tip-bearers (fruit borne on branch tips) require lateral thinning.
Bush and dwarf pyramid: Remove congested growth , ensuring replacement shoots are present . Tip-prune branch leaders to a well-placed bud.
Cordons, espaliers and stepovers: Carry out general spur-thinning. Tip leaders of cordons and stepovers, and arms of espaliers.