We purchased a house that has a pear, and apple tree in the yard. It doesn't look like they have been taken care of. The apples were small and had marks all over them, and the pears only really grew on the very top of the tree. ( the pear tree is over 15ft tall) Any suggestions on how to bring them back to good fruit bearing trees. We live in a cold climate if that makes a differance. Thanks!

Hi, When I had a problem that was somewhat like yours, I went to Rodales books. They have some good ones available. Go to their book store and look around. They sound really neglected and it will take time to bring them around. Good luck

Both of your fruit trees are in need of some proper pruning. If you had a lot of small mishapen friut pruning will decrease the amount of fruit and increase the size of the friut that the tree will produce. Pruning will also reduce the height, pruning will open the trees up so sunlight and air will circulate reducing fungus & diseases. Fruit trees are pruned a lot differently than ornamental trees. When you prune your fruit trees you are going to clean the trees up first, remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches, then remove any criss crossing, rubbing, interferring, or poorly attached branches. Then remove watersprouts and suckers they are the ones growing straight up on branches and sometimes at the base of the tree.
YOU MUST MAKE PROPER CUTS when you remove branches. Make your cut at the branch bark collar
(BBR) another words no flush cuts. At the base of every branch where it attaches to the limb is a swollen little collar you want to cut next to it, do not remove the collar or cut into it.
You don't want to hatrack (Butcher) the trees or remove the friut spurs. If you have a local extension office they typically will have very good information on pruning fruit trees, disease fungus, and insects in your area. Good luck