Question: How much should I prune my pears? When will they need to be pruned?

Answer: Prune pears in late winter, before new buds start to swell. Remove any damaged or dead branches, and try to maintain strong branch angles where limbs intersect the trunk. What that means with pears is that you may remove one of two branches that join in a very narrow crotch. Such branch angles accumulate bark and other debris and are more likely to break apart in windstorms. Otherwise, unlike peaches and plums, no regular pruning is required for pears.