Thankyou for a nice summary. I am one of three citizen representatives on my city's tree commission. My profession is unrelated to forestry,horticulture, etc. This tree is currently on my city's list of suggested trees for residents. (facepalm) I am looking for concise info to convince the city forester (the tree commission's head) to remove this tree from the list. This species is listed as invasive on the Wisconsin DNR's site. I am also looking to the info from the states you mentioned as ammo to accomplish this here in my northeast Wisconsin city. Thanks again, liked and subscribed 👊
@@yx5881 There are some natives, such as the Serviceberry mentioned in the vid, on the list. The Callery jumped out at me as the problem child on the list.
It's honestly tragic that even once an invasive species is identified it's often allowed to run rampant in the countryside. I wish governments focused more funding towards the eradication of invasive species.
I'm afraid that most of the spread is on private land. But it would be great if they would incentivize their removal. There are a couple states that will give you free native trees if you remove them (MO and NC I think). But they still allow the sale. I'm guessing that it doesn't take too much 'lobbying' to keep them legal.
@@growitbuildit Where I live unfortunately there are a lot of public spaces such as side of highway, schools, public spaces downtown which have bradford pears as well as just private land.
@@growitbuilditIncentive their removal I think is a great idea, but I'd draw the line at any government agency forcing the removal of them from private land. Removal from public lands would be a great step though.
I owned a tree company & I always told homeowners their best bet was to get rid of these trees. The wood is so soft that when high winds come through they split easily.
As a person with a natural resources background, people are always surprised at how little of our natural spaces are actually usable for biodiverse species. The reason is exactly plants like this one which are always planted for their convenience, their beauty, and their resilience. These exact species then colonize our native ecosystems, converting them into unusable thickets with no sunlight and a poor seed bank. We don’t like to acknowledge that the majority of the threatened or endangered species experiencing population decline are feeling that pressure because of a loss of quality habitat. Killing and cutting off the flow of invasive species like Callary Pear is the best we can do to ensure we get through this mass extinction period with as many of our beautiful native species remaining as possible.❤
Nice video! Dude, I converted my half acre lot into a meadow in Tennessee and have watched all your videos regarding wildflowers. So rad. Then, I researched a ton about trees, because not only do I have two centenarian Tsuga Canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) trees, I learned all about invasive Japanese Honeysuckle, privet, and the Bradford pear. Part of the pain of developing the meadow is ID’ing weed seedlings and the like. There are tons of random invasive seeds floating around that pop up-even right down to European dandelion (amazing wikipedia read) Pretty amazing. Going to replace my Bradford with American Smoke trees. Cant wait. Thanks man for the badass videos.
Thank you SO MUCH Vincent for your kind words, and the work you are doing. I believe I've gotten a PHD in Bush Honeysuckle Removal at this point. Continue to spread the word - it does make a difference. Regarding this tree, I believe the reason my neighbors opted to cut their trees down was when I pointed out the weak branches, and the risk it would be to their homes and cars. So, any reason that convinces someone to kill this tree is a good one! And I agree on the dandelion - it is an amazing story, and one of the most misunderstood plants. You have to admire it's tenacity though.
Yo! I literally have a neighbor’s next door lot full of 30ft tall Bradford and they are all tri-branched and each one suffers from breakage on at least one branch. We are on a steel hill to boot, but my neighbor isn’t convinced yet, but I’m doing my best to make a case for removal and replacement. The rest of his lot is tree of heaven, honeysuckle and privet :( You gotta follow up with videos on the honeysuckle, privet (here in TN they are bad), and the tree of heaven. Invasive videos are equally as cool as the flower videos on my opinion. Its the companion piece because so few people are even aware of what these trees and shrubs are, and you know that most will have to clear some of these species to make way for their new wildflower garden!! Also, love to see you mentioned triclopyr. I chopped so many privet trees down only to be railroaded next season with powerful stump regrowth because I never knew anything regarding herbicides outside of “roundup” which now I understand is glyphosate. Both these herbicides are powerful tools for landscape rehab if used appropriately and responsibly yet many pro landscapers and homeowners hold a lot of prejudice towards them-understandably. All this info is damn helpful and glad you found a niche with your production style and subject material. Truthfully, so many videos aren’t as well done or entertaining to watch. Maybe you can help give me some pointers on my micro-prarie. She’s looking good after hydroseeding last spring but still fighting the good fight with weeding as I didn’t fully understand prep until after the fact. Still, big success. Rock on brother!
@@growitbuildit I think the "weak tree" argument holds up well for those trees that were bought at the nursery. They seem to get stronger as they interbreed and establish themselves on the edges of the woods. I had one in my yard that was a mixed breed. It made mini-pears about the size of a kiwi (they did not taste good). It was the only fruit tree I had that consistently made fruit, but it had to go once I learned of its negative effects.
These trees smell like spunk and the fruit ruins clear coat on cars. I had one in my yard and it sent out underground runners like crazy. This is the worst tree. This tree and McMansions go hand in hand.
I hate these thorny, invasive bastards. I've cut down 4 in my yard already. They get tall and start to break off big limbs and parts of the trunk. They get so much fruit on them that their limbs can't even support their own weight. I've found that if you cut them down that you better quickly kill the stump as the stump and root system will start spouting them like crazy to the point of making it worse than it was before cutting it down. I've still got 4 planted in my yard that I need to cut down and kill. One is messing up my brick wall with its wide spread root system.
I'm glad to hear you are making progress killing these awful trees. In my experience you need to paint the stump very quickly, like within 10 minutes. Now when I go out killing Bush Honeysuckle I bring a black, non-translucent hand spray bottle filled with the triclopyr. That way I can give it a few sprays, and done right away. No messing around with a paint brush.
Thank you for this educational piece! I took out 2 and i have one more to go! My tree service guy highly recommended removing it. I was going to wait a couple more years, but it will be coming down in the spring now. I happened to come across this video when looking at how to treat the tree after a sap sucker has left holes all over it. Instead of saving it, you convinced me of getting rid of it sooner. I know this tree is getting planted all over in my area in Illinois. I'll be reaching out to local groups to share this so we can remove them. Thank you Growit! Also, ziptiefighter for your comment here. I always considered myself a tree hugger. My partner says i'm more of a tree murderer! But when i support our native species and have healthier trees, I'll be happy to be selective..
You are very welcome Julie - and I'm extremely happy to hear that you will remove your trees early. And thank you SO MUCH for sharing this, as it is important to get the word out where ever you can. Good luck and thank you again!
The only good that comes from this species is it makes a very dense biochar. More dense than the oak's and hickory's. So cut them all down and improve your soil with the biochar.
I had the Cleveland pear tree. It looked heathy, until the honey mushroom infected it. I'm glad to get rid of it. It had nasty thorns. If I had a lot of property, and I wanted to grow something fast that I could regularly harvest wood to make mulch, I would consider these trees. That is the only good that I could see coming out of them.
I believe you are correct - mulch is about the only positive thing from this tree. I will say that the wood can be used for smoking meat (any fruit tree works well).
These trees line my whole street. So messy and when the blooms fall, it smells bad. My neighbor had her's cut down by the city as it was growing toward her house. The city planted these trees a few years back on tree lawns. Our tree lawns are too narrow to grow a tree without roots damaging sidewalks and streets over time.
If people want a Spring flowering shrub/tree, they really should look into Viburnums. There are lots of native types, and they flower pretty nicely, and make fruit for the birds. They don't get too tall either, so it could be an option for your street. I bet once the Callery Pears start dropping limbs people will want to get rid of them pretty quickly.
First, I appreciate you pulling this together. Sometimes you know something’s not right but you can’t see the big picture like you’ve done. I unknowingly lived this entire story. We built in central Texas on relative modest lot. What trees did I go for? Of course, Bradford Pears trees? 6 of them. During their HeyDay, our backyard on a corner lots, was the BeesKnees any season. Then, I began hating the small branches initially dropping. Believe it or not, two were sick enough for termites to take out. Then a downdraft twisted and dropped two of them. I’m sitting in the house and hear this loud snap and shearing sound. The biggest of the last two, snapped and fell over a sidewalk and part of,the street. No one was hurt miraculously! Friend showed up with chainsaws and winch trucks to help make quick work of the fallen. The only good about the tree was it’s an over 18” diameter and beautiful orangish color wood was snapped up by wood workers. So that leaves only one. A couple of large branches have snapped off. I’ve been cutting off the other majors. I was slowly taking down anyway, but your vid has motivated me to get it done and down. It’s over 40ft so still capable of deciding to not go out like a punk and do some damage on its way out! Thank you!
Thank you - I appreciate the kind words. I felt I needed to tell the whole story of this tree (history included), and show how much it spreads, and finally explain why it's a bad thing so people would fully understand the situation. And I am very happy that I helped convince you to end the last of the pear trees in your yard! I'm very glad that nobody was hurt or no serious property damage when the limbs fell either.
I got rid of one and planted native trees but the dogwood is difficult unfortunately. Question my parents have a Bradford pear, since they are not getting rid of it can I graft a regular pear or Asian pear to it for fruit then trim the other limbs off of the original pear and pick off its original fruit?
Thank you - I'm glad you liked it. I've learned about the origins of a few, but none were as interesting as this one. It seems like an incredible job to be sent to China and try to find interesting plants that could be economical in North America. Well, this one didn't turn out so well, but still, it sounds like that man had an incredible life.
I want to get started on tackling invasives in my area. I'm going to get a good handsaw and some glyphosate. Is there a good time to start or is any time invasives ass-kickin' time?
Year round should be fine as long as you can ID the plant without leaves. The cut paint method should work year round. But if you want to be safe, just leave a couple feet of the trunk standing. Then, if it re-sprouts in early Spring, you can easily find it, cut/paint again for the final kill. Personally, I like to do most of my woody shrub work in Fall or early Spring. You can ID the plants easily enough, and the lack of brush/weeds makes work much easier. Also - a bowsaw can be great for the odd trimming. But I think you may wish to consider investing in an electric chainsaw and machete. I do most of my work with those two tools. I've got the 20V Dewalt, and it performs very well (I've had it for 4 years now I think). See here - ua-cam.com/video/-aq1kzxsk-U/v-deo.html
We bought a house in Albuquerque with a lovely little tree in the backyard. You guessed it, it was a Bradford pear tree. Within weeks of moving in, our small dogs became extremely ill. We eventually realized it was the ornamental fruit they were obsessed with. They had blood in their stool and had no control over it, it was everywhere, inside the house and out. We immediately took them in to the vet, their digestive system was a mess and required antibiotics to stop the infection. We went home and within the week, we had the tree completely removed, roots and all. We put up a chicken wire fence to block off most of the yard for about a year while we combed the yard for the left over “pears” and leaves. They’re finally able to roam the yard freely. Problem is, the city has them lining the street, one right over the wall, hanging over our yard… 🤨
I'd be happy to - Some of it may be spalted now! Not sure if this species does that or not. But I've been burning it slowly for backyard fires for a couple years now.
Sounds like Tallow trees in the south. They grow just like that. One of my young sons got burned by the oils while climbing the tree. They pop up everywhere. They said they also came from China.
Our electric company rep came out when I asked what I could plant as a privacy from the neighbors next to the power lines. He said under no circumstance should the Bradford/Callary Pears be planted. They’re terrible for the power company.
Thanks for making this video and taking a stand on this tree. I cut mine down last spring. My friend has one and the lower branches have all fallen off or had to be pruned away. Most of them end up looking like that! Everybody, do yourself a favor and replace with a redbud or a serviceberry or native crabapple. We replaced ours with a sassafras.
@@growitbuildit I don't think I have a lot of concerns about the sassafras rhizomes in my zone (5b), but I might be in for a surprise. I did treat the pear stump, and I still got suckers. It looks like I might be treating the pear for a while. 😅
My wife calls them Bastard pears. She’s been on a mission to kill them on our place and we’ve never even planted any of them. Birds dispersed the seed into some fields we were letting go fallow.
In the UK they're not a problem. I have one outside and been here since 2001. Look beautiful and I don't get your argument holds no water. I despise tree felling of healthy specimens. Absolute garbage!
That is good that they are not a problem in the UK, but are very invasive here. They take over many areas becoming the dominant species, and they do not support any insect life.
They're everywhere around here. I call em South Carolina cherry blossoms. None on my property, though. I'm big on doing a wild flower plot for the pollinators, helps the garden.
I will not be cutting my Cleveland Select down. Some people think they can control everything. Others let mother nature call the shots. Live and Let Live, cheers
Very interesting video. I knew they were bad, but now I know more about why they are bad. Happy to say that on our small property, we have a dogwood, and several maple trees. No Bradford Pears.
The viewers who left comments are right there is much valuable information in this video. I applaud you for effort in making clear the reasons this tree is unwelcome. I am an Ohio resident. I saw that this tree was on a list of plants banned for sale in 2024. As a plant nut, I was aware of honeysuckle and English Ivy being invasive, but was puzzled about Bradford Pear being included. I had a Bradford on my tree lawn for over twenty years. A storm 3 years ago split it apart, so it is no longer alive. There was no issue with odor or sprouting from roots. Thank you for education on what this tree does to native species. People who watch your channel can avoid making a potentially harmful landscaping choice.
Thank you very much Celia - I am happy you found the video informative. That is good you had no root sprouting, as that has not been my experience (nor other neighbors who removed the tree).
Uuuugh… our house has one. We want to remove it SO BAD! We live in an HOA that is otherwise inexpensive and great, but does have a few rules to it. One rule though, is if you remove a tree, another tree must be planted in its place. How do we fully remove this smelly thing, so that we CAN plant a new tree on its place? We want to plant a native species for sure (doesn’t have to be flowering, but I’m leaning toward a native magnolia if we do), but how do we fully get this doggone thing out of the way first? It’s about 30’ tall with a trunk about 8-10” and it shoots up babies CONSTANTLY and it does produce seed. Whoever initially build this subdivision in 2008 planted tons of these and other invasive (and boxwoods over plumbing 😤), we’re trying to right their wrongs
Hi - it is a big job to completely remove a tree trunk. The best option is usually to cut the stump to the ground, then replant about 2-3' away from the original. New sprouts can be pulled or cut/painted. I still have to do this years after removing, but it does reduce in frequency. It will produce sprouts whether you leave it or kill it unfortunately. But don't lose heart and keep up the good fight.
AWESOME INFO! Thank you!! I live in Oklahoma and we have these everywhere. I have one in my front yard and I've been tempted to have it removed because they can grow to enormous size. My mom had one at her house and that thing was so massive it dominated everything else around it. The canopy must have been around 25' wide and I don't even know how tall it was. It took a pro tree crew the better part of a full day to get most of it down and another day to grind the stump. Glad it's gone but HOLY COW that was expensive!! Mine is yellow and has many dead branches. the ones that are growing are down low and sticking WAY out. These trees are known to completely blow over or break sending 1/2 the tree crashing down during our heavy winds/tornadoes. So I'm seriously thinking I need this thing gone ASAP. Thanks again.
I just planted an eastern redbud, they are rarely planted in my neighborhood for some odd reason. I also have a serviceberry tree, another uncommonly utilized tree in my area. Callery pears are still littered in my city unfortunately
It can be frustrating when neighbors only plant what looks pretty from large nurseries. But I can't blame them as this information historically has been absent or hard to come by. But, lead by example, and educate where you can (just as you are w/ your redbud).
At 8:14 it looks like the house on the right has a lot of fire damage. Hope everyone was OK and glad it didn't spread to the surrounding trees and homes.
Hello, thank you for spreading the word on these invasives, do you have a background in biology or horticulture? Or it is more of a hobby for you? I am just curious. Thank you and happy spring
Hi Emily - I have zero formal education in bio/horticulture or any earth science. It is just a hobby (one that I take to the extreme). I do have a degree in engineering though, so I'm not afraid of journal papers, etc. But growing up we had a small garden and I worked at a "Mom & Pop" garden center in high school. But my big interest in natives began on a hike in Shenandoah. I turned a corner on a trail and it was awash with thousands (yes, thousands) of Swallowtail Butterflies and wildflowers. I thought to myself that I would like to try to recreate that at home.....and thus I started researching/reading. There wasn't that much good info out there, so after a few years of growing natives we decided to start a website and this channel. But plants is really a great hobby to get interested in, as you pretty much can't get bored. Waiting outside to get into a restaurant? Check out the landscaping. Stopped at a red light? Take a look what is growing along an abandoned fence line. You start learning to ID them, observing insects, learning how they reproduce and interact.
Well thank you for your videos, they are impressively put together. I enjoy watching them and always learn something 😊 and yes, learning about plants, insects, birds has definitely enriched my life
If you know any wood turners/workers they would love you if you give them the wood when you cut them down. It's a beautiful wood that works like a dream. I've heard it's also good for BBQ, but I haven't tried it yet.
I have a neighbor who does wood turning. And I have kept him supplied with a variety of species over the years, but not this one. In regards to BBQ - in my experience any tree that produces a fruit or nut will make for great smoking wood. This would certainly fit the bill with it's tiny pears.
Such a waste. Pear is one of the most magnificent pleasing woods a woodworker could ever hope for. It is so hard it literally holds a knife edge. Absolutely beautiful as it changes from bright yellow sap wood to peach, to orange to red to brown heart wood. It makes a very subtle smoke that is perfect for smoking fish. It seems to me all the "good" plants are being labeled invasive. Black locust, Bradford pear, kudzu, knotweed, bamboo, honeysuckle, wisteria. There has got to be a better way than just killing these plants with noxious herbicides and impatiently labeling them invasive.
@@growitbuildit They found one buried under the rubble of the World Trade Center and nursed it back to health. It now sits at the World Trade Center memorial pools.
4:58 I found it unreasonably funny when the computer tracking on the wild sprouted tree started shaking violently as it went off camera, as if to say " I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S A F***ING WILD SPROUTED TREE 😡😡😡". 😂😂😂😂
All of these invasives seem to have evil intent. We have scotch broom on the west coast from California up to coastal British Columbia. The scotch broom's similar characteristic is the beautiful flowers in spring and seeds in the fall that are easily spread by humans and the wildlife. This evil invasive grows anywhere, is ubiquitous and out competes it's native neighbours. Did I mention that it also harbours ticks.
They've got a strong desire to live - and live they do. But without all their 'natural predators' they flourish. Couple this with people's desire for a beautiful flowering tree......and there you go. One flowering non-native that looks similar to Scotch Broom that is very common out here in PA is Forsythia. Thankfully it doesn't seem to spread. At least I haven't seen it popping up in the wild.
@Growit Buildit The scotch broom was introduced to southern Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, by a homesick Scotsman. He wanted a wee little bit of Scotland around him. The scotch broom became so ubiquitous that the US prohibition, a century ago, played a role in scotch brooms' spread to California. Illicit Canadian rum was smuggled to the US via boat, and scotch broom was used as packing material to keep the bottles of rum from breaking against each other as the boats were getting tossed around on the open water of the Pacific coast. The broom had ripened seed pods all over them. And, the rest is history.
I have heard somewhere that this tree sends out briars for a ten mile radius which are very thorny and thick…overtaking many forest areas and yards with these thorny vines blocking access to areas and causing much harm to people hiking, walking etc
I have seen thickets of it, but not from vines or briars, but aggressive self-seeding. If there is a disturbed lot or meadow, this tree can be heavily colonized from bird droppings.
I ordered trees from a nursery online (bare root). Planted them, a couple years later, I thought they looked odd. Turns out they’re Bradfords! Question: could I cut and graft a different fruit tree onto them? Would it have to be pear or would apple or peach work?
Bought a house a few years ago that had one! Just cut mine down. Was coming here to find a video on the topic so I could share on Facebook. VERY informative!
Do you know any ways you can protect a redbud from verticillium wilt? I was thinking on planting a Cleveland pear but I said no. I saw the redbud and I heard these die from verticillium wilt but the pears do not. I still don't want the trash pear and I need help on how to prevent this disease from getting to my redbud tree.
If you've already had V. wilt in your yard, then it is probably there in the soil lying dormant. If you have not had it, or it has not been present nearby, then the best protection is to stop insects from getting access to open wounds. Only prune your tree in late Winter or very early Spring. For what it is worth, Redbuds are very common around here. There are many example of mature redbuds all around here (in the wild and in neighborhoods). I've planted redbud in place of my old (now dead) pear tree. Balance that against the fact that most of these pear trees die within 20-30 years from falling limbs.
I have a love hate relationship with these trees, I used to love and still kind of, love their blossoms, however, yes they stink, like a lot! And as someone with seasonal pollen allergies these trees are like the devil. Also a lot of the huge mature trees in my neighborhood have half there canopy missing as every time a strong storm or heavy snowfall comes, there huge branches just collapse, and after that the trees look ugly in shape. And after finding out that they are a massive threat to wildlife, I dislike these trees even more. But as someone who loves the feeling of spring and as such these trees are early bloomers, I will be a little sad when these get eradicated from my neighborhood soon. But it’s for the better and I hope these get removed soon!
Thank you very much for making this video. I am shopping for a tree for my front yard in NJ and the city gave me a list with approved trees and the Bradford pear is on the list as approved. I am glad I found your video before I bought it. I will share this video to show them how dangerous this tree is. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on these trees
Thank you for sharing it Johanna, and I'm glad you found this video before buying. This tree is awful, and should have been banned nationwide years ago. It is crazy how many of these I have pulled/killed and see all around.
I hope the Ohio decision will set a precedent for the whole Great Lakes area, to ban the sale of these trees. Thanks Ohio. These are a problem here in Michigan, I notice their spread into wild stands of trees also. They are easy to spot in spring while in flower.
I'm thinking the 'dominos' may start to fall. There has been plenty of articles and news coverage of this issue. And you would think it would be easy to write a simple bill and pass it....but apparently not.
Great video and one I hope to share with our HOA. We have a ton of these trees that have sprouted up in the areas that were cleared when they built the subdivision a few years ago. Since moving in I have tried to get the HOA to do something before all we have in the open hill sides and common areas is these Callery trees. The problem also was two years ago they cut a bunch down but did not treat so the stumps grew a ton of off shoots. I am hoping to find a somewhat safe chemicals as you have described to use with some success if I can get the HOA on board.
These are everywhere in Maryland. But as you travel future towards the city they get they get choked out by an even more invasive species the “tree of heaven” Which have completely taken over Baltimore city. Almost every vacant house has a “tree of heaven” growing inside
That would be crazy to see. They are here too, but not as noticeable outside of some areas. They are equally terrible in my mind. Plus Tree of Heaven is preferred host of Spotted Lantern Fly
@@growitbuildit what’s crazy is that they took over at least 30 years ago but the spotted lantern fly really just started to appear 2 years ago. As for the pear tree , it’s weird it doesn’t spread crazy in the city area even along roads because the rats actually eat the pears and the seeds aren’t spread as well because brown and black rats have stronger digestive systems compared to other rodents. The places where they do grow, and there aren’t a lot of rats, the tree of heaven has already choked them out. At least you can burn the pear tree , have you ever smelled burning tree of heaven? It’s like someone took 23 pairs of game worn Jordan’s and threw them into a dumpster fire with styrofoam and old 80s computers.
Wow that sounds like a terrible smell. Good to know as I'm cutting up a dead one next week. The only thing I've smelled is how the crushed leaves smell like rancid peanut butter
I have two of them and absolutely love them and am Not going to cut them down. I’ve had No issues with this tree and there are No small seedlings sprouting up in our yard or the neighbors yard either. There are Lots of invasive plants such as Kudzu, Wisteria and Chinese Privet, the Chinese Tallow Tree and the Chinaberry tree. Mimosa trees and the Chicolate Vine too. The list goes on and on
You are very welcome Caroline - please share this to help spread the word! If you know people who have this tree, challenge them to watch it saying "it may just change your mind".....
Queue the "I have them in my yard and they don't come up anywhere". I have 32 acres and will gladly give tours of what plants like ligustrum, mimosas, English ivy and especially callery pear do outside your yard. The thorns on the callery pear make removing them a horrible task.
Very good video. Have you done one about the Japanese Knotweed? A horrible invasive. People need to know the origins of this horrible overtaking cultivar!
I've not made it to knotweed yet....someday. It does grow around here in isolation. But I notice people are trying to poison it, as the foliage often turns red/orange this time of year.
@@growitbuildit where are you located? Up in the northeast it's everywhere. Such a horrible invasive. The root system is almost impossible to destroy. You have to excavate feet of earth to get it to stop coming back. Poison is a temporary solution.
In general, no. It isn't that hard, has a bland white color, and you won't get much of a straight-length of trunk since the branching starts at about 5' tall. Now, I can't say I've tried this type of wood, but in general any fruit-producing wood can be used for smoking wood. So take that for what it is worth.
@@growitbuildit Well, also firewood as well, I was thinking, and whether localities could set up come-and-get-it "clearing festivals" of sorts. Of course, I suppose it would have to do with whether people in an area still were allowed to heat their homes with fireplaces or wood stoves. It may not be the best firewood, "but it's free," was where I was going with it.
'Free' has a quality all of it's own. In my area something like that could work if the trees were large enough. I've seen some fields though where they were so densely packed that I doubt any trunk is larger than 12". But I think you have a good idea though.
Hi Armando - I'm not really sure. But the leaves of the Callery Pear are waxy and thick, and I believe that the leaves of edible pear trees are different, and are similar to Apple trees, which are eaten by deer.
I can't give you a definitive answer Axiana. I suspect that it is because the wood itself isn't exciting (plain white). And that the trunk splits/branches at about 5', which prevents one from gaining that much lumber. It probably just isn't cost effective.
I like to paint the freshly cut stump with concentrated brush killer. It seems to do well on the stump. If you dig to a root, you can always sever it and paint it too.
To kill one of these, you must take a lesson from Star Wars. You need to fill your heart with hatred and fully embrace the Dark Side of The Force. Only then will you have the strength to defeat this foe. They're almost as bad as a Crepe Myrtle.
Thank you so much for this, and for fighting the good anti-Bradford fight! I would love to see more videos on how to remove & manage invasives - particularly chameleon plant. I'm fighting it in most of our borders at the new house, & am trying a smothering method with multiple layers of cardboard, several inches of mulch, & spot applications of herbicides. I would love to hear other successful methods.
That is one plant I'm not familiar with (thankfully). But I will have to look it up. Has the cardboard been working? I've spent a good many hours killing Bush Honeysuckle, Multi-floral rose, Wild Parsnip, and Poison Hemlock in the woods behind my house. Slowly gaining ground.
@@growitbuildit So far, but we're just getting the spring warm-up, so the real test will be in the next two months when chameleon plant usually emerges. I suspect I'll need to rake back the mulch, reapply multiple layers of cardboard, and top up with some fresh mulch for a few years before I can declare victory.
I agree with the detrimental effect of this tree but I don't agree with using poison to kill it...there has to be another way besides using toxic poisons.
I understand the hesitancy using herbicide. It is the most effective way, and it does break down fairly quickly. Plus, just coating a freshly cut stump is about as limited/targeted application you can have.
Thankyou for a nice summary. I am one of three citizen representatives on my city's tree commission. My profession is unrelated to forestry,horticulture, etc. This tree is currently on my city's list of suggested trees for residents. (facepalm) I am looking for concise info to convince the city forester (the tree commission's head) to remove this tree from the list. This species is listed as invasive on the Wisconsin DNR's site. I am also looking to the info from the states you mentioned as ammo to accomplish this here in my northeast Wisconsin city.
Thanks again, liked and subscribed 👊
Thank you! I hope you are successful at getting this tree removed from the list. Please let me know how it goes.
@@yx5881 There are some natives, such as the Serviceberry mentioned in the vid, on the list. The Callery jumped out at me as the problem child on the list.
It's honestly tragic that even once an invasive species is identified it's often allowed to run rampant in the countryside. I wish governments focused more funding towards the eradication of invasive species.
I'm afraid that most of the spread is on private land. But it would be great if they would incentivize their removal. There are a couple states that will give you free native trees if you remove them (MO and NC I think). But they still allow the sale. I'm guessing that it doesn't take too much 'lobbying' to keep them legal.
@@growitbuildit Where I live unfortunately there are a lot of public spaces such as side of highway, schools, public spaces downtown which have bradford pears as well as just private land.
Given time they should fall down....hopefully not hurting anyone
@@growitbuilditIncentive their removal I think is a great idea, but I'd draw the line at any government agency forcing the removal of them from private land.
Removal from public lands would be a great step though.
Agreed nucky
It's been banned now here in ohio. You can no longer sell this tree.
Next year in PA! Now if you could get people to remove them.....
I owned a tree company & I always told homeowners their best bet was to get rid of these trees. The wood is so soft that when high winds come through they split easily.
Thank you for doing that Joon
I'm happy to say that I've cut down all the ones in my yard - at least 8 of them. Replaced them with fruit trees.
I feel like everyone should plant more fruit trees
I'm absolutely for planting edible fruit trees. I've done a number myself! And a big Kudos for killing 8!
@@scrotusmaximus3043yes! I’m in the process of removing the “decorative” shrubs and trees at my house and putting in all plants that will feed me.
I planted these 2 Years ago in my yard. They're about 6ft tall. I'll yank them out.
It is much easier to get rid of them at that size - good luck and good work Joel
As a person with a natural resources background, people are always surprised at how little of our natural spaces are actually usable for biodiverse species. The reason is exactly plants like this one which are always planted for their convenience, their beauty, and their resilience. These exact species then colonize our native ecosystems, converting them into unusable thickets with no sunlight and a poor seed bank. We don’t like to acknowledge that the majority of the threatened or endangered species experiencing population decline are feeling that pressure because of a loss of quality habitat. Killing and cutting off the flow of invasive species like Callary Pear is the best we can do to ensure we get through this mass extinction period with as many of our beautiful native species remaining as possible.❤
I couldn't have said it better Alexander
Nice video! Dude, I converted my half acre lot into a meadow in Tennessee and have watched all your videos regarding wildflowers. So rad.
Then, I researched a ton about trees, because not only do I have two centenarian Tsuga Canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) trees, I learned all about invasive Japanese Honeysuckle, privet, and the Bradford pear.
Part of the pain of developing the meadow is ID’ing weed seedlings and the like. There are tons of random invasive seeds floating around that pop up-even right down to European dandelion (amazing wikipedia read)
Pretty amazing.
Going to replace my Bradford with American Smoke trees. Cant wait. Thanks man for the badass videos.
Thank you SO MUCH Vincent for your kind words, and the work you are doing.
I believe I've gotten a PHD in Bush Honeysuckle Removal at this point. Continue to spread the word - it does make a difference.
Regarding this tree, I believe the reason my neighbors opted to cut their trees down was when I pointed out the weak branches, and the risk it would be to their homes and cars. So, any reason that convinces someone to kill this tree is a good one!
And I agree on the dandelion - it is an amazing story, and one of the most misunderstood plants. You have to admire it's tenacity though.
Yo! I literally have a neighbor’s next door lot full of 30ft tall Bradford and they are all tri-branched and each one suffers from breakage on at least one branch. We are on a steel hill to boot, but my neighbor isn’t convinced yet, but I’m doing my best to make a case for removal and replacement. The rest of his lot is tree of heaven, honeysuckle and privet :(
You gotta follow up with videos on the honeysuckle, privet (here in TN they are bad), and the tree of heaven. Invasive videos are equally as cool as the flower videos on my opinion. Its the companion piece because so few people are even aware of what these trees and shrubs are, and you know that most will have to clear some of these species to make way for their new wildflower garden!!
Also, love to see you mentioned triclopyr. I chopped so many privet trees down only to be railroaded next season with powerful stump regrowth because I never knew anything regarding herbicides outside of “roundup” which now I understand is glyphosate. Both these herbicides are powerful tools for landscape rehab if used appropriately and responsibly yet many pro landscapers and homeowners hold a lot of prejudice towards them-understandably. All this info is damn helpful and glad you found a niche with your production style and subject material. Truthfully, so many videos aren’t as well done or entertaining to watch.
Maybe you can help give me some pointers on my micro-prarie. She’s looking good after hydroseeding last spring but still fighting the good fight with weeding as I didn’t fully understand prep until after the fact. Still, big success. Rock on brother!
@@growitbuildit I think the "weak tree" argument holds up well for those trees that were bought at the nursery. They seem to get stronger as they interbreed and establish themselves on the edges of the woods. I had one in my yard that was a mixed breed. It made mini-pears about the size of a kiwi (they did not taste good). It was the only fruit tree I had that consistently made fruit, but it had to go once I learned of its negative effects.
Thank you for sharing Nate. That is unfortunate, as I would rather they maintained their "weak" reputation
@@growitbuildit Me too! They probably still will since the "desirable" ones are the weak ones.
Dogwood looks even nicer than Bradford.
I completely agree.
These trees smell like spunk and the fruit ruins clear coat on cars. I had one in my yard and it sent out underground runners like crazy. This is the worst tree. This tree and McMansions go hand in hand.
I still can't believe it hasn't been banned by more states.
I hate these thorny, invasive bastards. I've cut down 4 in my yard already. They get tall and start to break off big limbs and parts of the trunk. They get so much fruit on them that their limbs can't even support their own weight. I've found that if you cut them down that you better quickly kill the stump as the stump and root system will start spouting them like crazy to the point of making it worse than it was before cutting it down. I've still got 4 planted in my yard that I need to cut down and kill. One is messing up my brick wall with its wide spread root system.
I'm glad to hear you are making progress killing these awful trees. In my experience you need to paint the stump very quickly, like within 10 minutes. Now when I go out killing Bush Honeysuckle I bring a black, non-translucent hand spray bottle filled with the triclopyr. That way I can give it a few sprays, and done right away. No messing around with a paint brush.
My city is PAYING people to cut down these trees. They're giving people replacement trees.
That is AWESOME
Very glad you made this video! If I could have a full-time job cutting these down, I would do it.
I'm100% with you Nate
Thank you for this educational piece! I took out 2 and i have one more to go! My tree service guy highly recommended removing it. I was going to wait a couple more years, but it will be coming down in the spring now. I happened to come across this video when looking at how to treat the tree after a sap sucker has left holes all over it. Instead of saving it, you convinced me of getting rid of it sooner. I know this tree is getting planted all over in my area in Illinois. I'll be reaching out to local groups to share this so we can remove them. Thank you Growit! Also, ziptiefighter for your comment here. I always considered myself a tree hugger. My partner says i'm more of a tree murderer! But when i support our native species and have healthier trees, I'll be happy to be selective..
You are very welcome Julie - and I'm extremely happy to hear that you will remove your trees early. And thank you SO MUCH for sharing this, as it is important to get the word out where ever you can. Good luck and thank you again!
Cut mine down and planted a redbud.
I did the exact same thing Julie
Thank you for making us aware of this problem! 👍🏼
You are very welcome Bella - spread the word!
Thank you so much for making this video. So important that we get this tree off the market and continue to remove them.
Thank you MAC - I really hope the word spreads among the states.
The only good that comes from this species is it makes a very dense biochar. More dense than the oak's and hickory's. So cut them all down and improve your soil with the biochar.
Good to know - I have not tried making biochar yet.
I had the Cleveland pear tree. It looked heathy, until the honey mushroom infected it. I'm glad to get rid of it. It had nasty thorns. If I had a lot of property, and I wanted to grow something fast that I could regularly harvest wood to make mulch, I would consider these trees. That is the only good that I could see coming out of them.
I believe you are correct - mulch is about the only positive thing from this tree. I will say that the wood can be used for smoking meat (any fruit tree works well).
These trees line my whole street. So messy and when the blooms fall, it smells bad. My neighbor had her's cut down by the city as it was growing toward her house. The city planted these trees a few years back on tree lawns. Our tree lawns are too narrow to grow a tree without roots damaging sidewalks and streets over time.
If people want a Spring flowering shrub/tree, they really should look into Viburnums. There are lots of native types, and they flower pretty nicely, and make fruit for the birds. They don't get too tall either, so it could be an option for your street. I bet once the Callery Pears start dropping limbs people will want to get rid of them pretty quickly.
The smell alone should discourage planting them.
You would think so...but they still pop up in new developments!
These are blooming now so it's easy to see how invasive the species has become.
It's a real eye-opener isn't it? This invasive just announces itself in the most visual way possible.
First, I appreciate you pulling this together. Sometimes you know something’s not right but you can’t see the big picture like you’ve done. I unknowingly lived this entire story. We built in central Texas on relative modest lot. What trees did I go for? Of course, Bradford Pears trees? 6 of them. During their HeyDay, our backyard on a corner lots, was the BeesKnees any season. Then, I began hating the small branches initially dropping. Believe it or not, two were sick enough for termites to take out. Then a downdraft twisted and dropped two of them. I’m sitting in the house and hear this loud snap and shearing sound. The biggest of the last two, snapped and fell over a sidewalk and part of,the street. No one was hurt miraculously! Friend showed up with chainsaws and winch trucks to help make quick work of the fallen. The only good about the tree was it’s an over 18” diameter and beautiful orangish color wood was snapped up by wood workers. So that leaves only one. A couple of large branches have snapped off. I’ve been cutting off the other majors. I was slowly taking down anyway, but your vid has motivated me to get it done and down. It’s over 40ft so still capable of deciding to not go out like a punk and do some damage on its way out! Thank you!
Thank you - I appreciate the kind words. I felt I needed to tell the whole story of this tree (history included), and show how much it spreads, and finally explain why it's a bad thing so people would fully understand the situation. And I am very happy that I helped convince you to end the last of the pear trees in your yard! I'm very glad that nobody was hurt or no serious property damage when the limbs fell either.
I got rid of one and planted native trees but the dogwood is difficult unfortunately. Question my parents have a Bradford pear, since they are not getting rid of it can I graft a regular pear or Asian pear to it for fruit then trim the other limbs off of the original pear and pick off its original fruit?
Hi - I have no direct experience grafting, but I think that would work. Probably best to make sure the graft takes before trimming the rest.
I really enjoyed hearing the history of how the tree was brought over. I often wonder how that happened when I read up on tree and plants.
Thank you - I'm glad you liked it. I've learned about the origins of a few, but none were as interesting as this one. It seems like an incredible job to be sent to China and try to find interesting plants that could be economical in North America. Well, this one didn't turn out so well, but still, it sounds like that man had an incredible life.
I want to get started on tackling invasives in my area. I'm going to get a good handsaw and some glyphosate.
Is there a good time to start or is any time invasives ass-kickin' time?
Year round should be fine as long as you can ID the plant without leaves. The cut paint method should work year round. But if you want to be safe, just leave a couple feet of the trunk standing. Then, if it re-sprouts in early Spring, you can easily find it, cut/paint again for the final kill.
Personally, I like to do most of my woody shrub work in Fall or early Spring. You can ID the plants easily enough, and the lack of brush/weeds makes work much easier.
Also - a bowsaw can be great for the odd trimming. But I think you may wish to consider investing in an electric chainsaw and machete. I do most of my work with those two tools. I've got the 20V Dewalt, and it performs very well (I've had it for 4 years now I think). See here - ua-cam.com/video/-aq1kzxsk-U/v-deo.html
We bought a house in Albuquerque with a lovely little tree in the backyard. You guessed it, it was a Bradford pear tree. Within weeks of moving in, our small dogs became extremely ill. We eventually realized it was the ornamental fruit they were obsessed with. They had blood in their stool and had no control over it, it was everywhere, inside the house and out. We immediately took them in to the vet, their digestive system was a mess and required antibiotics to stop the infection. We went home and within the week, we had the tree completely removed, roots and all. We put up a chicken wire fence to block off most of the yard for about a year while we combed the yard for the left over “pears” and leaves. They’re finally able to roam the yard freely. Problem is, the city has them lining the street, one right over the wall, hanging over our yard… 🤨
Ah - that is awful. Hopefully they decide to remove them before they start dropping limbs.
In SC the state will replace and Bradford you cut down up to 5 a year!
That is awesome! This is the first year it is illegal to sell in PA. Nurseries had to destroy their stock.
I don't know why stores still sell them.
I'm happy to say that their days are numbered in my state. Everywhere else though.....
You can send me the wood for turning!
I'd be happy to - Some of it may be spalted now! Not sure if this species does that or not. But I've been burning it slowly for backyard fires for a couple years now.
hoorah, get a redbud instead
We're big fans of the Redbud up here
Sounds like Tallow trees in the south. They grow just like that. One of my young sons got burned by the oils while climbing the tree. They pop up everywhere. They said they also came from China.
I had to look those up Carolyn - they appear to be similar. And both appear to be quite invasive.
if u want a pretty white flowering tree plant a Natchez crape myrtle.
Our electric company rep came out when I asked what I could plant as a privacy from the neighbors next to the power lines. He said under no circumstance should the Bradford/Callary Pears be planted. They’re terrible for the power company.
Sounds like you've got a solid company rep! They do pop up all over powerline cuts.
Thanks for making this video and taking a stand on this tree. I cut mine down last spring. My friend has one and the lower branches have all fallen off or had to be pruned away. Most of them end up looking like that! Everybody, do yourself a favor and replace with a redbud or a serviceberry or native crabapple. We replaced ours with a sassafras.
Thank you Lisa! Sassafras are awesome trees that look great in the Fall. Do you have any concerns with rhizome spreading?
@@growitbuildit I don't think I have a lot of concerns about the sassafras rhizomes in my zone (5b), but I might be in for a surprise. I did treat the pear stump, and I still got suckers. It looks like I might be treating the pear for a while. 😅
My wife calls them Bastard pears. She’s been on a mission to kill them on our place and we’ve never even planted any of them. Birds dispersed the seed into some fields we were letting go fallow.
In the UK they're not a problem. I have one outside and been here since 2001. Look beautiful and I don't get your argument holds no water. I despise tree felling of healthy specimens. Absolute garbage!
That is good that they are not a problem in the UK, but are very invasive here. They take over many areas becoming the dominant species, and they do not support any insect life.
They're everywhere around here. I call em South Carolina cherry blossoms. None on my property, though. I'm big on doing a wild flower plot for the pollinators, helps the garden.
Spread the word on how bad they are! And thank you for making a wildflower plot. You're going to love the insects - they are so interesting to watch.
I will not be cutting my Cleveland Select down. Some people think they can control everything. Others let mother nature call the shots. Live and Let Live, cheers
Fair enough - you can't convince everyone.
Could you remove Bradford pears just by felling the trees and grinding the stumps
It will still sprout from lateral roots. But for the main trunk, yes, grinding will kill it
These are EVERYWHERE in NJ & I've ever seen them in Brooklyn, NYC. Tell them about this!
Spread the word wherever you can!
Very interesting video. I knew they were bad, but now I know more about why they are bad. Happy to say that on our small property, we have a dogwood, and several maple trees. No Bradford Pears.
I'm happy you don't have any - please help spread the word though.....
The viewers who left comments are right there is much valuable information in this video. I applaud you for effort in making clear the reasons this tree is unwelcome. I am an Ohio resident. I saw that this tree was on a list of plants banned for sale in 2024. As a plant nut, I was aware of honeysuckle and English Ivy being invasive, but was puzzled about Bradford Pear being included. I had a Bradford on my tree lawn for over twenty years. A storm 3 years ago split it apart, so it is no longer alive. There was no issue with odor or sprouting from roots. Thank you for education on what this tree does to native species. People who watch your channel can avoid making a potentially harmful landscaping choice.
Thank you very much Celia - I am happy you found the video informative. That is good you had no root sprouting, as that has not been my experience (nor other neighbors who removed the tree).
Uuuugh… our house has one. We want to remove it SO BAD! We live in an HOA that is otherwise inexpensive and great, but does have a few rules to it. One rule though, is if you remove a tree, another tree must be planted in its place. How do we fully remove this smelly thing, so that we CAN plant a new tree on its place? We want to plant a native species for sure (doesn’t have to be flowering, but I’m leaning toward a native magnolia if we do), but how do we fully get this doggone thing out of the way first? It’s about 30’ tall with a trunk about 8-10” and it shoots up babies CONSTANTLY and it does produce seed. Whoever initially build this subdivision in 2008 planted tons of these and other invasive (and boxwoods over plumbing 😤), we’re trying to right their wrongs
Hi - it is a big job to completely remove a tree trunk. The best option is usually to cut the stump to the ground, then replant about 2-3' away from the original.
New sprouts can be pulled or cut/painted. I still have to do this years after removing, but it does reduce in frequency. It will produce sprouts whether you leave it or kill it unfortunately. But don't lose heart and keep up the good fight.
AWESOME INFO! Thank you!! I live in Oklahoma and we have these everywhere. I have one in my front yard and I've been tempted to have it removed because they can grow to enormous size. My mom had one at her house and that thing was so massive it dominated everything else around it. The canopy must have been around 25' wide and I don't even know how tall it was. It took a pro tree crew the better part of a full day to get most of it down and another day to grind the stump. Glad it's gone but HOLY COW that was expensive!! Mine is yellow and has many dead branches. the ones that are growing are down low and sticking WAY out. These trees are known to completely blow over or break sending 1/2 the tree crashing down during our heavy winds/tornadoes. So I'm seriously thinking I need this thing gone ASAP. Thanks again.
You are welcome Jon - good luck getting your tree removed. They are a pain!
I just planted an eastern redbud, they are rarely planted in my neighborhood for some odd reason. I also have a serviceberry tree, another uncommonly utilized tree in my area. Callery pears are still littered in my city unfortunately
It can be frustrating when neighbors only plant what looks pretty from large nurseries. But I can't blame them as this information historically has been absent or hard to come by. But, lead by example, and educate where you can (just as you are w/ your redbud).
Is this also true for Chanticleer and Capital ornamental pears? I’m a zone 5 north of Toronto gardener here with a Chanticleer pear in my back yard
Yes, both of those are Pyrus calleryana, exact same species.
Is this also true for Chanticleer and Capital ornamental pears? I’m a zone 5 north of Toronto gardener here with a Chanticleer pear in my back yard
Yes, both of those are Pyrus calleryana, exact same species.
I enjoy your videos. You are direct and to the point and they are very educational. You also have a great story telling voice. So that is nice. Thanks
Thank you so much - I really appreciate the kind words. Glad you're enjoying them.
This was very thorough and informative!! Thank you, sir!
You are very welcome Jack - spread the word on how bad this tree is!
I read somewhere that the seeds the birds end up spreading grows thorny new plants. Is that correct?
Yes - that is correct. Although it isn't always thorny, but often is.
At 8:14 it looks like the house on the right has a lot of fire damage. Hope everyone was OK and glad it didn't spread to the surrounding trees and homes.
Hi Cerberus - everyone got out ok. That was quite a scary night.
The tree and “fruit” you show at 1:21 is not a pear tree, that is beach plum and indigenous to the North East.
No - that is a large Bradford Pear in my neighbors backyard.
Learned something new, these things are ALL OVER here in Northern, IL and never really paid attention to them.
Glad I could tip you off Vic. Spread the word!
The previous owners of our home had planted one in the front yard. I spent the last 7 days cutting that piece of crap down.
I commend you for doing so!
Excellent information!
Thank you Rob!
Even though I like the maple tree. It produces way to many leaves
Perhaps consider Black Cherry. They flower white, feed birds, and have beautiful fall color. growitbuildit.com/black-cherry-prunus-serotina/
Hello, thank you for spreading the word on these invasives, do you have a background in biology or horticulture? Or it is more of a hobby for you? I am just curious. Thank you and happy spring
Hi Emily - I have zero formal education in bio/horticulture or any earth science. It is just a hobby (one that I take to the extreme). I do have a degree in engineering though, so I'm not afraid of journal papers, etc. But growing up we had a small garden and I worked at a "Mom & Pop" garden center in high school.
But my big interest in natives began on a hike in Shenandoah. I turned a corner on a trail and it was awash with thousands (yes, thousands) of Swallowtail Butterflies and wildflowers. I thought to myself that I would like to try to recreate that at home.....and thus I started researching/reading. There wasn't that much good info out there, so after a few years of growing natives we decided to start a website and this channel.
But plants is really a great hobby to get interested in, as you pretty much can't get bored. Waiting outside to get into a restaurant? Check out the landscaping. Stopped at a red light? Take a look what is growing along an abandoned fence line. You start learning to ID them, observing insects, learning how they reproduce and interact.
Well thank you for your videos, they are impressively put together. I enjoy watching them and always learn something 😊 and yes, learning about plants, insects, birds has definitely enriched my life
Anybody know how soon after killing one of these trees a new tree can be planted in its place?
If you've got the space, you can plant something else immediately. The cut and paint method usually doesn't hurt anything but the target plant.
If you know any wood turners/workers they would love you if you give them the wood when you cut them down. It's a beautiful wood that works like a dream. I've heard it's also good for BBQ, but I haven't tried it yet.
I have a neighbor who does wood turning. And I have kept him supplied with a variety of species over the years, but not this one. In regards to BBQ - in my experience any tree that produces a fruit or nut will make for great smoking wood. This would certainly fit the bill with it's tiny pears.
My city was trimming and cutting some and I've got a good bit that's dried down to 12% in my garage can't wait to use it
Such a waste. Pear is one of the most magnificent pleasing woods a woodworker could ever hope for. It is so hard it literally holds a knife edge. Absolutely beautiful as it changes from bright yellow sap wood to peach, to orange to red to brown heart wood. It makes a very subtle smoke that is perfect for smoking fish. It seems to me all the "good" plants are being labeled invasive. Black locust, Bradford pear, kudzu, knotweed, bamboo, honeysuckle, wisteria. There has got to be a better way than just killing these plants with noxious herbicides and impatiently labeling them invasive.
None of these plants that you mention will ever be eradicated. And I'm pretty sure that most people would welcome you to come harvest from them.
The issue is that they choke out natives. It would be fine if ppl took care of making sure they tamed the invasives but they don’t.
Is the Clevalenda tree the same as Bradford
Yes - same tree.
They need to pass laws where only Callery pears can be cut down for firewood. Add buckthorn and a few other invasive trees to the list.
100% agree!
I've been told that Franklin, Tennessee has a law like this.
This exact tree survived 9/11
Wow - they are resilient survivors.
@@growitbuildit They found one buried under the rubble of the World Trade Center and nursed it back to health. It now sits at the World Trade Center memorial pools.
Wow. They are tough. Hopefully the seed stays on the pavement of Manhattan
@@growitbuildit- 🤣
They’re everywhere. It’s insane.
It's an amazing tragedy. Good intentions and roads and all that....
4:58 I found it unreasonably funny when the computer tracking on the wild sprouted tree started shaking violently as it went off camera, as if to say " I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S A F***ING WILD SPROUTED TREE 😡😡😡". 😂😂😂😂
Hahaha - that is funny. Even the camera got mad!
My sheep love eating the leaves and fruit.
I wish they could eat the whole tree!
i have one chilling in my yard, its just… chilling. it hasnt multiplied or whatever the hell, its just chilling there
Look to the ditches and nearby wild areas. There are several throughout the forest behind my house that most likely came from mine or my neighbors
@@growitbuildit tbh, i dont really care enough to do that, its pretty :)
All of these invasives seem to have evil intent. We have scotch broom on the west coast from California up to coastal British Columbia. The scotch broom's similar characteristic is the beautiful flowers in spring and seeds in the fall that are easily spread by humans and the wildlife. This evil invasive grows anywhere, is ubiquitous and out competes it's native neighbours. Did I mention that it also harbours ticks.
"Evil" is a strong word lmao.
@@bluebowser3347 Here's another... Boo!
They've got a strong desire to live - and live they do. But without all their 'natural predators' they flourish. Couple this with people's desire for a beautiful flowering tree......and there you go.
One flowering non-native that looks similar to Scotch Broom that is very common out here in PA is Forsythia. Thankfully it doesn't seem to spread. At least I haven't seen it popping up in the wild.
@Growit Buildit The scotch broom was introduced to southern Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, by a homesick Scotsman. He wanted a wee little bit of Scotland around him. The scotch broom became so ubiquitous that the US prohibition, a century ago, played a role in scotch brooms' spread to California.
Illicit Canadian rum was smuggled to the US via boat, and scotch broom was used as packing material to keep the bottles of rum from breaking against each other as the boats were getting tossed around on the open water of the Pacific coast. The broom had ripened seed pods all over them. And, the rest is history.
That is a crazy story
wow thank you so much. This is really appreciated. Thanks for caring.... its important. Be well.
Thank you Billie.
I have heard somewhere that this tree sends out briars for a ten mile radius which are very thorny and thick…overtaking many forest areas and yards with these thorny vines blocking access to areas and causing much harm to people hiking, walking etc
I have seen thickets of it, but not from vines or briars, but aggressive self-seeding. If there is a disturbed lot or meadow, this tree can be heavily colonized from bird droppings.
I ordered trees from a nursery online (bare root). Planted them, a couple years later, I thought they looked odd. Turns out they’re Bradfords! Question: could I cut and graft a different fruit tree onto them? Would it have to be pear or would apple or peach work?
That is probably a question best answered by your local ag extension office. I would call them and ask.
Oh my! I just checked my city's tree map (NYC) and there are over 65k listed on the map!
Ouch! Unfortunately there are many cities and regions like that....
Bought a house a few years ago that had one! Just cut mine down. Was coming here to find a video on the topic so I could share on Facebook. VERY informative!
Thank you! And thank you for sharing!
Do you know any ways you can protect a redbud from verticillium wilt? I was thinking on planting a Cleveland pear but I said no. I saw the redbud and I heard these die from verticillium wilt but the pears do not. I still don't want the trash pear and I need help on how to prevent this disease from getting to my redbud tree.
If you've already had V. wilt in your yard, then it is probably there in the soil lying dormant. If you have not had it, or it has not been present nearby, then the best protection is to stop insects from getting access to open wounds. Only prune your tree in late Winter or very early Spring.
For what it is worth, Redbuds are very common around here. There are many example of mature redbuds all around here (in the wild and in neighborhoods). I've planted redbud in place of my old (now dead) pear tree. Balance that against the fact that most of these pear trees die within 20-30 years from falling limbs.
I have a love hate relationship with these trees, I used to love and still kind of, love their blossoms, however, yes they stink, like a lot! And as someone with seasonal pollen allergies these trees are like the devil. Also a lot of the huge mature trees in my neighborhood have half there canopy missing as every time a strong storm or heavy snowfall comes, there huge branches just collapse, and after that the trees look ugly in shape. And after finding out that they are a massive threat to wildlife, I dislike these trees even more. But as someone who loves the feeling of spring and as such these trees are early bloomers, I will be a little sad when these get eradicated from my neighborhood soon. But it’s for the better and I hope these get removed soon!
I understand the love/hate relationship. They are beautiful trees, and an indication of Spring. They just eliminate a lot of habitat.
Thank you very much for making this video. I am shopping for a tree for my front yard in NJ and the city gave me a list with approved trees and the Bradford pear is on the list as approved. I am glad I found your video before I bought it. I will share this video to show them how dangerous this tree is. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on these trees
Thank you for sharing it Johanna, and I'm glad you found this video before buying. This tree is awful, and should have been banned nationwide years ago. It is crazy how many of these I have pulled/killed and see all around.
I hope the Ohio decision will set a precedent for the whole Great Lakes area, to ban the sale of these trees. Thanks Ohio.
These are a problem here in Michigan, I notice their spread into wild stands of trees also. They are easy to spot in spring while in flower.
I'm thinking the 'dominos' may start to fall. There has been plenty of articles and news coverage of this issue. And you would think it would be easy to write a simple bill and pass it....but apparently not.
Will the one growing at the 9/11 site become a problem? Or is it already a problem?
Hi - if it is this tree....then I'm sure it is already a problem.
I just cut down 5 Bradford Pears that were in my yard when I bought my house! 👍
You serve as an example for all!
Great video and one I hope to share with our HOA. We have a ton of these trees that have sprouted up in the areas that were cleared when they built the subdivision a few years ago. Since moving in I have tried to get the HOA to do something before all we have in the open hill sides and common areas is these Callery trees. The problem also was two years ago they cut a bunch down but did not treat so the stumps grew a ton of off shoots. I am hoping to find a somewhat safe chemicals as you have described to use with some success if I can get the HOA on board.
Good luck Todd. The chemicals is commonly sold as "brush killer". You can find just about any hardware or big box store
These are everywhere in Maryland. But as you travel future towards the city they get they get choked out by an even more invasive species the “tree of heaven” Which have completely taken over Baltimore city. Almost every vacant house has a “tree of heaven” growing inside
That would be crazy to see. They are here too, but not as noticeable outside of some areas. They are equally terrible in my mind. Plus Tree of Heaven is preferred host of Spotted Lantern Fly
@@growitbuildit what’s crazy is that they took over at least 30 years ago but the spotted lantern fly really just started to appear 2 years ago. As for the pear tree , it’s weird it doesn’t spread crazy in the city area even along roads because the rats actually eat the pears and the seeds aren’t spread as well because brown and black rats have stronger digestive systems compared to other rodents. The places where they do grow, and there aren’t a lot of rats, the tree of heaven has already choked them out.
At least you can burn the pear tree , have you ever smelled burning tree of heaven? It’s like someone took 23 pairs of game worn Jordan’s and threw them into a dumpster fire with styrofoam and old 80s computers.
Wow that sounds like a terrible smell. Good to know as I'm cutting up a dead one next week. The only thing I've smelled is how the crushed leaves smell like rancid peanut butter
@@growitbuildit rancid peanut butter 😂😂 that’s accurate
Why do ppl plant these awful smelling trees? 🤣
I live in Arizona and never even heard of this tree. I still watched the whole video. Very informative! You have a lot of knowledge.
Thank you Vanessa - I'm glad you found it interesting. Apparently AZ can't support this tree - be grateful for that!
I have two of them and absolutely love them and am Not going to cut them down. I’ve had No issues with this tree and there are No small seedlings sprouting up in our yard or the neighbors yard either. There are Lots of invasive plants such as Kudzu, Wisteria and Chinese Privet, the Chinese Tallow Tree and the Chinaberry tree. Mimosa trees and the Chicolate Vine too. The list goes on and on
They're aren't invasive in most people's yards. But in other areas where their seeds can grow.
@@growitbuildit We own 20 acres and my neighbor owns 3 acres and no signs of them
Thank you for spreading the word about this non-native invasive tree!
You are very welcome Caroline - please share this to help spread the word! If you know people who have this tree, challenge them to watch it saying "it may just change your mind".....
Queue the "I have them in my yard and they don't come up anywhere". I have 32 acres and will gladly give tours of what plants like ligustrum, mimosas, English ivy and especially callery pear do outside your yard. The thorns on the callery pear make removing them a horrible task.
Exactly! I couldn't have said it any better.
Ugh… English Ivy…
Are Cleveland pear trees considered in this invasive group?
Yes - absolutely
NYC planted this tree on my street about 10 years ago.
That is awful. I know some municipalities had stopped using them around that time
Very good video. Have you done one about the Japanese Knotweed? A horrible invasive. People need to know the origins of this horrible overtaking cultivar!
I've not made it to knotweed yet....someday. It does grow around here in isolation. But I notice people are trying to poison it, as the foliage often turns red/orange this time of year.
@@growitbuildit where are you located? Up in the northeast it's everywhere. Such a horrible invasive. The root system is almost impossible to destroy. You have to excavate feet of earth to get it to stop coming back. Poison is a temporary solution.
I remember when this tree was touted as "the ideal city tree" when I was in college almost 4 decades ago.
Quite the good marketing it had, with horrible consequences.
@@growitbuildit Just like any product.
Is the wood good for anything?
In general, no. It isn't that hard, has a bland white color, and you won't get much of a straight-length of trunk since the branching starts at about 5' tall. Now, I can't say I've tried this type of wood, but in general any fruit-producing wood can be used for smoking wood. So take that for what it is worth.
@@growitbuildit Well, also firewood as well, I was thinking, and whether localities could set up come-and-get-it "clearing festivals" of sorts. Of course, I suppose it would have to do with whether people in an area still were allowed to heat their homes with fireplaces or wood stoves. It may not be the best firewood, "but it's free," was where I was going with it.
'Free' has a quality all of it's own. In my area something like that could work if the trees were large enough. I've seen some fields though where they were so densely packed that I doubt any trunk is larger than 12". But I think you have a good idea though.
Does this problem with deer not eating them, extend to all pear types or just the Bradford Pear Tree?
Hi Armando - I'm not really sure. But the leaves of the Callery Pear are waxy and thick, and I believe that the leaves of edible pear trees are different, and are similar to Apple trees, which are eaten by deer.
Growit Buildit. Thank you for the reply. Glad to hear. I will be sure to be careful about which pear type I plant in the future.
If these trees grow so fast, why are they not being used for growing for resources such as paper products or small lumber?
I can't give you a definitive answer Axiana. I suspect that it is because the wood itself isn't exciting (plain white). And that the trunk splits/branches at about 5', which prevents one from gaining that much lumber. It probably just isn't cost effective.
Exactly. Also sounds like it would be perfect for coppicing by a farmer or homesteader.
Lumber is likely too soft. Probably softer than pine and pine is really soft.
Once cut, do you recommend using rock salt to kill the roots?
I like to paint the freshly cut stump with concentrated brush killer. It seems to do well on the stump. If you dig to a root, you can always sever it and paint it too.
@@growitbuildit Thank you!
Excellent info as always!
Thank you Sarah!
Thank you!
You are very welcome!
To kill one of these, you must take a lesson from Star Wars. You need to fill your heart with hatred and fully embrace the Dark Side of The Force. Only then will you have the strength to defeat this foe.
They're almost as bad as a Crepe Myrtle.
I love it! You've got to be more tenacious than this tree to kill it - that is for sure.
Thanks!
Thank you so much Laura!
Thank you so much for this, and for fighting the good anti-Bradford fight! I would love to see more videos on how to remove & manage invasives - particularly chameleon plant. I'm fighting it in most of our borders at the new house, & am trying a smothering method with multiple layers of cardboard, several inches of mulch, & spot applications of herbicides. I would love to hear other successful methods.
That is one plant I'm not familiar with (thankfully). But I will have to look it up. Has the cardboard been working?
I've spent a good many hours killing Bush Honeysuckle, Multi-floral rose, Wild Parsnip, and Poison Hemlock in the woods behind my house. Slowly gaining ground.
@@growitbuildit So far, but we're just getting the spring warm-up, so the real test will be in the next two months when chameleon plant usually emerges. I suspect I'll need to rake back the mulch, reapply multiple layers of cardboard, and top up with some fresh mulch for a few years before I can declare victory.
Weeds are us. Nobody knows what is native or nonnative, nor do they care, hopped up on junk food. No insects, no birds, just us. Yuck🤮
They sell large invasive trees cheap, and most people have no idea how much of a problem they cause.
I agree with the detrimental effect of this tree but I don't agree with using poison to kill it...there has to be another way besides using toxic poisons.
I understand the hesitancy using herbicide. It is the most effective way, and it does break down fairly quickly. Plus, just coating a freshly cut stump is about as limited/targeted application you can have.
Just graft a culinary pear onto the stump, then you can grow your own pears!
What caused the spread was branches emerging from beneath the graft for the callery pears.