[Hobnails]

I would be grateful for some advice on Summer pruning of Apples and Pears please.

I took over a garden with some old and badly neglected apple and pear trees and took out
about a quarter of the wood of each tree last Winter.

Not surprisingly, I now have extensive summer growth and water shoots to deal with.

Although a problem, it is encouraging, as it shows the old trees still want to grow.

The pruning books I have seem to restrict Summer pruning to espalier and cordon trees, whereas mine are free standing, standard and semi standard trees.

I intend taking more wood from there and lowering crowns this coming Winter, but should i remove the unwanted shoots and prune back the ones I wish to save now or wait until winter.

Your advice gratefully will be  received, as always.

Best Wishes

Hobnails

[Trillium]

Pruning too much during dormant periods increases the growth of more sucker shoots rather than useful branches, so on some trees even pruning up to the recommended 1/4 of the tree can be too much.
That said, pruning off green wood now will heal faster than when it becomes old later, so yes, pruning off most of your suckers now will work best. I personally find summer pruning, if you know how it's done, works better than winter pruning.

Here's a bit more info that might be helpful:
http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/article/14/