Preparing a pear tree for winter: how and when to cover it, can it be pruned?

Autumn pear tree care involves preparing the tree for winter. These procedures are primarily aimed at increasing the tree's frost resistance. A weakened tree is more susceptible to frost damage, and in the spring, it takes a long time to gain strength for fruiting. Preparing pears for winter in the Moscow region and other regions has many similarities. The difference lies in the timing and reliability of covering the fruit trees.

Preparation depending on the region

Caring for pear trees in the Moscow region, the Leningrad region, and central Russia is a classic approach. Just be aware that winters can be snow-poor. Regularly rake snow back to the trunk. If there's no snow at all, increase the amount of sawdust and peat mulch (about 20 cm) or cover the root zone with a layer of spruce branches and top with soil.

On the eastern slopes of the Urals, the climate is almost identical to that of the central regions. Winters are slightly harsher, but preparing a pear tree for the cold is significantly simplified by the snow cover. In the eastern part, the climate is more severe. It is necessary to insulate the root zone and wrap the trunk with burlap, paper, or black film.

Siberian pear tree care is complicated by the short autumn. Sometimes gardeners decide to prune in the spring, unless the pruning of dead shoots is necessary. In the fall, it's essential to dig up the soil around the roots and add plenty of organic matter. Roots are covered with sawdust, pine needles, and spruce branches. Young plants are also prepared for winter in Siberia, while strong, sturdy pear trees are only prepared for the trunks. They are wrapped in burlap, paper, or spruce branches. Ideally, care should be completed by early October.

Removing leaves and fruits

Before preparing pears for winter, they are inspected, removing fruit, leaves, and any remaining greenery from the crown and around the trunk. By late autumn, the tree should be free of leaves, rotted or mummified fruit, and fallen leaves around the trunk. Columnar pear shoots should be whole and ripe, free of green tips, and not too close to the ground. Pests and diseases can hide in fruit and leaves for the winter. These pests will attack the tree early in the growing season. Therefore, they should be removed in late autumn.

Cleaning is carried out as follows:

• The tree is shaken a little to make the leaves fall.
• The fruits are removed, and if they do not fall, they are carefully knocked down with a stick or a special harvesting device.
• After harvesting the fruit and leaves, clear the area around the tree trunk of all plant debris. It's recommended to lightly weed and loosen the soil a couple of centimeters deep.

Fertilizers after fruiting

Fertilizing pear trees in the fall is done while tilling the soil around the tree. Apply 1-2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate and superphosphate per square meter. When growing under sod, add fertilizer to several holes, making them a maximum of 20 cm deep. Dig the holes in different places around the trunk and fill them with 0.5 buckets of water.

Adding manure is also not recommended. It's better to spread a 4-5 cm layer of humus under the tree as the weather approaches colder. This will act as a mulch, and in the spring, meltwater will carry nutrients back into the soil.

Pruning pear trees in autumn

The pear tree thrives on light. A dense crown can lead to disease and reduced fruit production. Trim the pears Pruning can be done at any time of year. However, gardeners recommend performing formative and sanitary treatments in the spring or fall, before temperatures drop below freezing. Fall pruning of pears is not difficult for beginners. It helps shape the crown, reducing the risk of disease. The absence of excess leaves allows you to assess the density of the tree and remove unnecessary, irregularly growing branches.

There are 3 types of pruning:

• rejuvenating;
• formative;
• sanitary.

Rejuvenating pruning increases the tree's lifespan and fruiting potential. After pruning, new shoots grow vigorously, and the yield increases. This procedure is performed on older pear trees—those over 30 years old. Formative pruning is performed to improve crown aeration.

Sanitary procedures involve removing abnormally growing branches and shoots. The timing of pruning depends on the climate. In Siberia, where frosts can occur as early as September, pruning is done after the pears have been harvested and some of the leaves have fallen. In regions with a mild climate, pruning is performed in October or even early November. In the Moscow region, pruning begins in late August and continues no later than September 15th.

Experts advise adhering to the law of subordination when pruning. This means that the length and thickness of branches decrease from bottom to top. This method of pruning a pear tree in preparation for winter helps achieve a proper crown. Branches less than 20 mm in diameter are not treated with protective agents. The remaining branches can be sealed with garden pitch. Branches are pruned above a healthy upper bud. This rule applies to any type of pruning. To prevent the bark from being torn, the branch is slightly filed down at the top and bottom before being cut off completely.

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The whitewashing process

The purpose of whitewashing pear trees in the fall is to prevent sunburn and cracks in the trunk due to temperature fluctuations. These can occur during the transitional period of February and March.

Both old and young trees should be whitewashed. For young saplings, use weak solutions. If lime is used, the concentration is halved. This will prevent burning the bark. Alternatively, use special paints for garden trees. Young trees should definitely be whitewashed, as they have thin bark, which can be severely damaged by frost cracks in winter and spring. Gardeners recommend wrapping young saplings with smooth bark in white covering material rather than whitewashing them. This will simultaneously protect them from sunburn and rodents.

Spraying against pests and diseases

This procedure will help get rid of most pests, their larvae, and pathogenic fungi, preventing them from surviving the winter in the soil and tree bark. There are two opinions regarding fall spraying. Some gardeners believe it's best to do the treatment after leaf fall. At this time, the tree enters a dormant state, and the buds are completely closed. They won't be exposed to strong spray solutions. Other experts recommend spraying a couple of weeks before leaf fall, but only after the harvest. In this case, the leaves will quickly turn black. This is nothing to be alarmed about, as this is precisely the goal. By losing their leaves, the pear tree will actively prepare for the cold weather.

In any case, spraying shouldn't be delayed. It's important to do it before frost sets in, otherwise the products won't be effective, and the procedure itself will be pointless. As a rule, most products work at temperatures up to +5°C. Bordeaux mixture or urea with iron sulfate are most commonly used for fall spraying.

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Watering in autumn

Pruning, clearing the surrounding soil, and cleaning the tree trunk area are all considered preparation for the most important event. This is a moisture-recharging irrigation, meaning the tree trunk area is thoroughly dug and watered. At least 40-50 liters of water are poured onto each tree. Then a layer of mulch (up to 200 mm thick) is applied. These procedures are carried out in September-October.

Autumn loosening and mulching help protect tree roots from mechanical damage. Under heavy snow, soil compaction occurs, which is detrimental to the root system. Mulch retains moisture at the roots and protects the underground parts of the tree from sudden temperature fluctuations, ensuring oxygen access to the roots. All this will help complete metabolic processes in the fall, preparing the tree for and successfully surviving the cold weather.

Shelter for the winter

You can cover a pear tree for the winter using polyethylene film. Available at the market are agril, spantex, spunbond, agrosuf, and lutrasil. These are all names for insulation used as covering and wrapping materials. These non-woven sheets made of polypropylene fibers are pliable, loose, and soft. They make a good insulation and protective material.

Covering a pear tree involves wrapping the trunk and the lower part of the first row of main branches with material, which is then tied tightly with strong rope. Young trees are best wrapped in three layers. Spruce branches can be placed on top, which should also be securely fastened. This is done to prevent the wind from blowing them away or rodents from reaching the branches and trunk.

Caring for your pear tree in the fall before the cold weather sets in is crucial. This will ensure a well-prepared tree will delight you with a bountiful harvest the following year. The abundance and timing of flowering, fruit set, and fruit size depend on how the tree survives the winter.