Let's talk about my Bradford pear tree

[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.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Last year a storm split a tree in the yard behind me in a similar fashion, then a squirrel fell into the split and couldn't get back out, and eventually died in there.

One vote to keep the tree for a while.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Sorry, had to be done.

Bradford pears are ornamental, they do not bear fruit.

[Fish]

LOL... it comes in tree color anyway....

[mikeyis4dcats.]

pears are bad for splitting. Cut it out and replace it. Hell, you could probably plant another Bradford pear and have an identical tree in a few years.

Not that I'd recommend another bradford pear.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

pears are bad for splitting. Cut it out and replace it. Hell, you could probably plant another Bradford pear and have an identical tree in a few years.

Not that I'd recommend another bradford pear.

This tree was probably 25 years old. It's pretty big for a pear tree.

[stlchiefs]

Bradford pears are terrible trees, especially in the Midwest. Though fast growing, they grow multiple trunks and are prone to splitting in ice storms. You won't find many nurseries that would recommend planting them unless you're a developer planting the common areas or a contractor looking to do the landscaping on the cheap.

My vote: cut it down

[Boon]

Burn it. BBQ.
Go with a Cleveland Select Pear.
More resistant to ice/wind damage.


http://www.advancedtree.com/tree_clevelandpear.htm

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Well played.

[LaChapelle]

Now it's a pair tree.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You might want to cut one side away and see if it recovers. Many BP's around here were split in half during severe ice-storms and have recovered nicely.

That's exactly what would do. Pick the half that is not aimed at the house and or car and cut the other half.

[Bugeater]

I would the whole thing.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I would the whole thing.

?? Please fill in the missing word(s) big dog. __________________

[Valiant]

If it is still doing good I would tie the tree together.. You could also get some wire ala old school fence wire..

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Bwana

?? Please fill in the missing word(s) big dog. __________________

THE WHOLE THING

[Groves]

If you really like it, just have it cabled. They attach a cable and winch it with sufficient tension.

The pears are known for losing large limbs, but it's not because the wood is weak, it's due to the very narrow angle that the limbs tend to grow out from each other.

It won't be super cheap, but whatever you do, don't fool yourself into thinking that rope or wire or some other amateur solution will work, and for goodness sake don't wrap anything around those trunk forks, you'll kill the tree.

We have two splitting sugar maples in our front yard and we had them both cabled *and* bolted a year ago. It will extend their life, but they'll never be showpieces.

Most all of the fruitwoods are nice and dense, they are close grained and take a good polish, too. If you don't want to use it for BBQ, just ring up a local woodworking or woodturning club, they'll likely haul it away for free for the wood.