Reddit reviews Training and Pruning Apple and Pear Trees

If you're going to do this yourself, you've got some reading to do. You'll need to learn to identify the pests you're dealing with and then research methods for controlling them. If you want to do it right, you'll eventually become an amateur entomologist. Understanding the life-cycles and lifestyles of your pest is key to dealing with them effectively.

As for pruning.. If you take photos of your trees I might be able to give you more specific advice, but first you need to familiarize yourself with the physiology of trees. There are some good youtube videos out there but I feel reading is the best way to learn. Basically, each year you have a limited amount of wood you can remove from the tree. (Some say 1/4 to 1/3 of the tree's total mass.) Don't try to correct them in one year. Start out by making big cuts (going for older, thicker wood and taking large portions) and remove the dead wood. Next year, make some finer detailed cuts.. You'll be progressively refining the shape every year until you get where you want to be. Then from there you have to maintain it and keep the tree in balance.

Some books to get you started:

If you can find it at a local library or are willing to shell out the money to get your own copy this is one of the best, most concise books on pruning and training I've ever read.

The Holistic Orchard and The Apple Grower written by Michael Phillips are excellent for beginners.