Why I don't recommend Bradford Pears

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Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

Carolyn Choi said…
OMG, Phillip. So sorry. As a tree and shrub expert I always told my potential Bradford Pear buyers that they had a tendency to split or break in high winds. BTW, love your header photo.

Look forward to meeting you here in my new neck of the woods at Springfling Asheville in May. Just started up my new blog at http://www.sweethomeand garden carolina.blogspot.com
March 4, 2012 at 7:30 AM
Phillip Oliver said…
Hi Carolyn, this wasn't my tree. I don't have any Bradford Pears. I saw several in town that wound up like this after the storms on Friday. I will check out your blog!
March 4, 2012 at 7:48 AM
Randy Emmitt said…
Phillip,
I'm no fan of them either. I'd plant an American Plum instead, the butterflies and bees love the flowers and critters like the fruit, no brainer to me.
March 4, 2012 at 8:55 AM
sweetbay said…
Yup there's always some around here like that too after severe storms.
March 4, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Lisa at Greenbow said…
They have mostly been blown out of our area too.
March 4, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Laurrie said…
Amen. In Connecticut we lost every single Bradford pear in town when heavy wet snow hit in October. Some fell over, some imploded in a flat circle, and the few left standing had more than half their canopies broken at odd angles and cracked up in total confusion. It will be interesting to see if malls and municipalities replant the same pears!
March 4, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Eve said…
oh Dear! Love your new header Phillip!
March 4, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Les said…
I never miss an opportunity to trash talk this tree.
March 4, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Shoalanda said…
The Bradfords are so pretty, but about three years ago a gentleman from Auburn spoke here about them. Not only did he enumerate all that could happen to them, he mentioned financial liability. Nuff said on that one.
March 5, 2012 at 1:32 AM
Rosedale Garden said…
I love fringe trees. I need to continue with my series "bradford pears not" on my blog. Spring flowers started blooming & I got side track. Mom called me after the April tornado's at 4 in the morning and the only thing she was worried about was the big limb which fell off of hers. I told her well they do that. When the neighbor came to cut the limb up I told her to get him to cut the whole thing down as it will continue. The next storm she called & every limb had broken in a circle. I told her again well they do that. She got mad at me for my lack of sympathy. Mary
March 6, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Jess said…
Well, this is crap, huh?! Glad its not yours. It could have at least had the manners to fully make it through its bloom season before keeling over.
March 6, 2012 at 4:14 PM
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