[header] How to prune a pear tree [title] Prune any dead or damaged branches. [step] Dead, damaged or diseased wood should be removed starting with the origin of the damage. This may mean cutting an entire large area if it is all damaged or dead. 
You will know if an area is damaged or dead if it does not have leaves during growing season when the rest of the tree is in bloom. [substeps] Removing dead or damaged branches is one of the few times it's okay to prune your tree in the spring or summer.