| When is the best time to prune back (thin out) a mature Bradford Pear tree? TIA donna |
| Generally speaking, pruning would be done in late winter while the tree is dormant but temperatures are above 40 degrees. However, it is very difficult to effectively thin a mature Bradford pear due to their naturally tight crotch angles. Also, pruning leaves the tree open to infection by pest or disease so you would not want to prune a mature tree extensively. This tree has a pleasant fairly symmetrical natural shape so it is typically not pruned with the exception of removing broken or damaged branches. Pruning a mature tree is best left to a professionally trained and certified arborist with experience working with ornamental trees. They will have the knowledge and equipment to work on a large tree such as this. |
