How To Pollinate Pear Trees ?
Pear trees are often planted for enhancing the beauty of the surroundings as much as for the sweet fruits they bear. Growers in particular should be aware that these trees do not self-pollinate. Another pear tree must be available in the vicinity for pollination. The best and natural way of pollination occurs when honeybees get attracted to these trees and transport the pollens stuck to their body from the blossoms of one tree to the blossoms on other trees. |
However, not all varieties of pear trees are compatible for cross-pollination. A typical example is Seckel. This can not be a pollinator for the Bartlett variety. Some varieties, such as Comice, Bartlett, Hardy and Kiefer and Anjou, are partially self-pollinating pear varieties. However, if these are cross-pollinated, they tend to give a larger yield of fruits.
There are two options for pear trees which are self-unfruitful or for better yield from self-fruitful trees. One can purchase a sapling from a nursery obtained by grafting two varieties of compatible pear trees or plant two compatible trees in close vicinity. Assistance of a nursery or the closest cooperative extension office in the neighborhood can be taken to identify such compatible trees and plant them.
Pollination of pear trees relies on the movement of honeybees from one tree to another. Since the blossoms of these trees do not attract too many bees due to the shortage of nectar, ensuring many bees to come on the tree is a challenge. One may have to do this by getting beehives. Another aspect to choose two varieties of pear trees is that neither should be prone to fire blight. This will cause the entire pollen on the blossom to get destroyed making cross-pollination impossible.
If one has a bee-hive, then self-pollination can be attempted using a paint-brush. Dip the brush in a jar of pollens, tap off extra pollen and dab it in the middle of the blossom onto the stamen. Dab entire bunches of clusters on the tree. Avoid pollinating blossoms on weak branches since they might not bear the weight of the fruits later.
The blossoms of the trees should be checked daily. Between 12 and 72 hours after the blossoms open, application of pollens from one tree to another can be performed twice either at the start or end of the time frame mentioned.
It has to be decided as to which portion of the tree clusters need pollination. You can use a ladder if the blossoms on the upper reach are intended to be pollinated.
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The Bradford pear tree is a preferred tree of many in the suburbs, since it not only gives fresh tasty pears in fall and winter, but also because they beautify the surroundings with their blossoms marking the onset o spring. They are also ideal avenue trees since their roots are not very deep-rooted and the branches do not grow very big. The only disadvantage is that the faster vertical growth of the trees results in the growth of weak branches, which tend to splinter during rough weather, such as ice or snow storms. Pruning these trees from their third year will ensure that the branches spread and grow stronger. 
