I live in the southeast part of North Carolina. I have a Bradford pear tree in my front yard. It's about 12-14 ft tall. Its shape is beautiful, but it never blooms when the rest of the Bradford pear trees bloom in our area. If it blooms at all, it doesn't until all the others are done blooming and sprouting green leaves. I've tried adding fertilizer and Miracle Gro soil, but nothing helps. Can anyone tell me what I might be doing wrong?
By Cricket from Parkton, NC
Hi Cricket -
Honestly, the best thing you can do with that tree in particular is to cut it down and replace it with another species. Bradford pears (and other Callery pear varieties) were once planted throughout suburban and urban landscapes because of the pretty shape and flowers they produce. In recent years, though, the tree has become terribly invasive, and the wild versions that crop up are reverting back to an older morphology that is thick with thorns. Every tree of this species should be removed if possible and replaced with a tree from a species that is native to your region.
I know this isn't what you hoped to hear. Bradford pears are beautiful to look at, so many people fall in love with them. It's a shame they are such an ecological problem, but fortunately there are many pretty native trees that make good replacements.
Stop telling people how to take care of their yard. If someone wants a pear tree then leave them alone.
What part of invasive species did you miss? No one is saying do not plant pear trees but this one stinks . Really smells like rotting fish and is invasive...that means bad
