Let's talk about my Bradford pear tree

[Dallas Chief]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I have a large Bradford pear tree. I noticed today that it has a big split, about 18' long going all the way through the main trunk. The tree shows no sign of failure, is growing as normal, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time. It is not endangering the house, or any overhead lines, but could do some damage to the car. How urgent is this? Something I need to take care of in a week or could I wait a while as long as I move the car during high winds?

More importantly, does anyone have any personal experience smoking meat using Bradford pear? I get conflicting reports from the BBQ sites.

Dude. I would try to save it. A tree that size is not easily replaced. Use Skips idea of bailing wire and try to cinch it tight little by little to see if it will "grow" back together. Put an old piece of rubber hose etc under the wire to keep it from cutting into the tree. IMHO its worth a shot before you turn it into BBQ fuel.