Strong winds = broken branches on young pear tree :(

January Man

Hi all

Just been out to assess damage from the recent and current strong winds.  Most seems to have survived, but a nearby potted plant fell onto my young pear tree and has snapped two branches.  The tree was planted last year as a 2 year old bare root, so is in its third year now.  To be honest, it hasn't been doing as well as we hoped and was a little on the sparse side to begin with.  This has just made it worse!!!  

Is there anything we can do with the snapped branches to repair them or are they 100% goners?  

Also, we are half temped to give up on it and replace it with a new one.  I know that would mean buying a potted tree at this time of year, but with the fact it wasn't doing terribly well and now this, I'm wondering if a replacement would be the best option.  Would be interested to hear what others would do.

Many thanks

Max

PS - please excuse the dodgy background.  It's a work in progress!

Hostafan1

wanna swap for one of my oaks?

January Man

Oh no!!!  At least you'll be warm come winter

Obelixx

Trim off both broken stems as close to the trunk as possible but leaving a slight "neck" to scar over naturally.  Then loosen that tree tie before it strangles the main stem!

Have a look at the resulting shape of your tree and decide if you can live with it but I would definitely wait till autumn to re-plant if you decide to get rid.   You could try giving it a good drink, a handful or two of slow release tomato food and another drink and then mulch round the base to reduce moisture loss and weed competition.   See if it responds by autumn and then decide.

January Man

Thanks Obelixx.  The tie is not as tight as it looks.  There is some space on the blind side and the stem can move a little within it.  Not sure if that still means it needs to be loosened?

Before doing anything I can tell that the resulting shape will be somewhat unbalanced, with no significant branches remaining on the left hand side.  But I'll do as you recommend and see how well it bounces back.  I was heading toward a modified central leader form.  Should I now try to allow new branches to form and grow where these two broke, so as to keep that shape/form?  

Cheers

Obelixx

I think so.  It's a case of wait and see.   You could also consider training it as a fan or espalier if the new shape lends itself to that.

See here for advcie form the RHS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=319

and https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=626 

This may also help - https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/pear/how-to-espalier-a-pear-tree.htm