Garden Care Guide

Common Pear Care

Pyrus communis

A deciduous tree of high economic value, grown for its delicious fruit. For abundant, good-quality fruit it needs full sun and deep, fertile soil. It is very susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) and usually needs to be cross-pollinated by another compatible pear variety to set fruit.

Hardy · -30 °C / -22 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Pruning: Main pruning time. Shape pruning is carried out to open up the crown, improve light penetration, and remove branches that have lost productivity. Cut out fire blight cankers left over from the previous year.
  • Plant protection: 2% Bordeaux mixture or copper-based preparations; applied against overwintering pests (psyllids, scale insects) and diseases (scab, fire blight).
  • General care: Pruning debris and mummified fruit should be removed from the garden.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches for cankered tissue.
  • Frost risk: The tree is hardy, but flower buds are sensitive.
February
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown. Prune while fully dormant; if flower buds are cut too early, yield drops. Encourage an open-centered, forked structure. Protect large cut surfaces.
  • Plant protection: Just before the buds swell, Bordeaux mixture or a copper-based fungicide can be applied.
  • General care: Clean the area around the tree.
  • Frost risk: As the buds swell, sensitivity to frost increases.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy. It loves acidic soil; if interveinal yellowing (chlorosis) appears on the leaves in limy soil, prefer an acidic fertilizer. Because yield and fruit quality depend on nutrient balance, having a soil analysis done is especially useful for this plant.
  • Plant protection: This is the most critical period for fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). At the start and end of flowering, apply copper-based preparations or licensed bactericides. Do not use insecticides on plants in flower, as this harms bees.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Shoots that suddenly darken and curl inward like a shepherd's crook are a sign of fire blight. Cut them out immediately.
  • Frost risk: Flowers are very sensitive to frost; it is the riskiest month.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Cut out branches showing fire blight at least 30-40 cm below the diseased area, into healthy tissue. Disinfect tools after every cut.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Continue fire blight control.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves for orange-brown pustules (rust). Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: The harvest of the summer varieties begins.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves for orange-brown pustules (rust). Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: After harvest, summer pruning can be done to remove sucker branches that have grown too long.
  • General care: Harvest of main-season cultivars. Help the tree store energy for the following year.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • General care: Harvest of mid-late varieties.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: As post-harvest fertilizing, fertilizers containing phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and boron (B) can be given.
  • Pruning: Not needed. Only cut off branches infected with fire blight immediately.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Late varieties (e.g. Deveci) are harvested. Take care not to bruise the harvested fruit.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves for orange-brown pustules (rust).
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Applying Bordeaux mixture or urea after leaf fall reduces next year's black spot infection.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Repeat the Bordeaux mixture application after leaf fall is complete.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
December
  • Pruning: Once the tree is fully dormant, major pruning can begin toward the end of the month.
  • General care: Full dormancy period.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides