Home and Auto Let's talk about my Bradford pear tree - Page 3

Groves · 07-06-2009, 09:17 PM

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.

**cdcox** · 08-04-2010, 07:36 PM

UPDATE: I ended up doing nothing to the tree. Half of it fell into the driveway today at about 4:30 PM. So I left work and rented a Makita chainsaw from HomeDepot. It's dark now and the heat index is still 95. So the work goes pretty good for a while, then I start having trouble getting the chainsaw started. I'm getting exhausted just pulling on the rope. Finally I took it back to HD. Sure enough it starts on the first pull in the store. I take it back home, get is started and start making good progress again. Then I have trouble starting the chain saw again. I'm talking about 20 or more pulls without starting. My theory is that there is a giant spring inside the chain saw and they use all the times I've pulled the cord to wind the spring. I'll try again in the morning if I'm not too sore to get it started. Hopefully I'll be able to get the drive way cleared before I have to have the saw back at 9:00. Half the tree is still standing. I guess I'll take it down later.

This tree is huge. I'll throw the little branches on my brush pile in the back. I'm saving the wrist size branches for smoking -- I'll have a life time supply. I'll probably have more than a half cord of fire wood I'll end up giving away. I hope to save a few nice pieces to turn into lumber. I want to make a jewelry box for my daughter (she grew up climbing that tree) and maybe carve a bowl out of another piece.

I hope this tree doesn't end up killing me.

**Buck** · 08-04-2010, 07:43 PM

Damn man.

Delano · 08-04-2010, 07:47 PM

I'd recommend chaps, arborist safety glasses, and heavy gloves if you're inexperienced with a chainsaw.

Good move removing it.
Posted via Mobile Device

**bevischief** · 08-04-2010, 07:48 PM

http://tobytobin.com/

This question came up a few weeks ago. Give it a shot. 980 KMBZ in KC, Sat 6-10am.

**bevischief** · 08-04-2010, 07:48 PM

http://tobytobin.com/

This question came up a few weeks ago. Give it a shot. 980 KMBZ in KC, Sat 6-10am.

Deberg_1990 · 08-04-2010, 08:55 PM

These trees suck. Everyone i have ever known who had one said the same thing. Split in half when the winds blew hard.

Dallas Chief · 08-04-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

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.

Groves · 08-04-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas Chief

A tree that size is not easily replaced.

It's never fun to lose a large tree, but seriously, a bradford pear tree is one of the faster growing trees out there. That's often why people plant them.

Plant another one (tree), but not another one (bradford pear) unless you like those falling branch or tree halves.

It is a nice hard wood. Carve it/turn it while it's still green or you'll hate yourself.

Delano · 08-04-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas Chief

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.

Totally amateur. If you really want to save a tree, hire a professional arborist. You're creating a liability with your bailing wire and hose. Let me guess, you probably advocate tapping elms to avoid weep or paint over wounds with "tree bandage."
Posted via Mobile Device

**cdcox** · 08-05-2010, 08:31 AM

I got the driveway cleared, even though the chainsaw would only start once this morning. The guy at HD gave me half off on the rental, so I'm good. I'm going to use the fire wood to bribe my buddy with a chainsaw or some random dude off Craig's list to help me cut down the rest of the tree.

07-06-2009, 09:17 PM	#1
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $-991459	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.
Posts: 2,391

08-04-2010, 07:36 PM	#2
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-648231	UPDATE: I ended up doing nothing to the tree. Half of it fell into the driveway today at about 4:30 PM. So I left work and rented a Makita chainsaw from HomeDepot. It's dark now and the heat index is still 95. So the work goes pretty good for a while, then I start having trouble getting the chainsaw started. I'm getting exhausted just pulling on the rope. Finally I took it back to HD. Sure enough it starts on the first pull in the store. I take it back home, get is started and start making good progress again. Then I have trouble starting the chain saw again. I'm talking about 20 or more pulls without starting. My theory is that there is a giant spring inside the chain saw and they use all the times I've pulled the cord to wind the spring. I'll try again in the morning if I'm not too sore to get it started. Hopefully I'll be able to get the drive way cleared before I have to have the saw back at 9:00. Half the tree is still standing. I guess I'll take it down later. This tree is huge. I'll throw the little branches on my brush pile in the back. I'm saving the wrist size branches for smoking -- I'll have a life time supply. I'll probably have more than a half cord of fire wood I'll end up giving away. I hope to save a few nice pieces to turn into lumber. I want to make a jewelry box for my daughter (she grew up climbing that tree) and maybe carve a bowl out of another piece. I hope this tree doesn't end up killing me.
Posts: 46,037

08-04-2010, 07:43 PM	#3
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $5920295	Damn man.
Posts: 44,607

08-04-2010, 07:47 PM	#4
Delano [b]Supporter[/b] Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A Hypnagogic Landscape Casino cash: $7625015	I'd recommend chaps, arborist safety glasses, and heavy gloves if you're inexperienced with a chainsaw. Good move removing it. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 13,039

08-04-2010, 07:48 PM	#5
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $7729352 VARSITY	http://tobytobin.com/ This question came up a few weeks ago. Give it a shot. 980 KMBZ in KC, Sat 6-10am.
Posts: 27,771

08-04-2010, 08:55 PM	#7
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $34454	These trees suck. Everyone i have ever known who had one said the same thing. Split in half when the winds blew hard.
Posts: 68,734

08-05-2010, 08:31 AM	#11
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-648231	I got the driveway cleared, even though the chainsaw would only start once this morning. The guy at HD gave me half off on the rental, so I'm good. I'm going to use the fire wood to bribe my buddy with a chainsaw or some random dude off Craig's list to help me cut down the rest of the tree.
Posts: 46,037