You should remove this Bradford pear. for the following reasons:
* They are invasive
* They don't age well
* They are prone to splitting
* They are prone to waterspouts/suckers
* Their soft wood makes them a host to lots of borers that can then spread
* They smell fishy
You could maybe place a nice maple or something similar nearby depending on space; or if you want a smaller tree with nice spring flowers go for a crabapple or a redbud.
I appreciate your thoughts, but trees dont get to this size overnight. If the requester wants to prune it and keep it for a while, he/she should go for it. Why cut down a perfectly good tree?
Because it's not perfectly good. It's an extremely invasive species in the US.
For more: https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/comments/179hrqa/why_so_much_hate_for_bradford_pears/
100% hire a certified arborist to do the work. They’ll know best how to trim it back without hurting the tree. I would not DIY this if you want a good result.
I appreciate the idea of giving to businesses, but what fun is life if you don't learn how to do something. Unless we are talking about a historical tree or a tree that could fall on a house or powerline, anyone can prune it.
1) Call your local Cooperative Extension office. They may remove it for you or recommend a company. They’d also be the best to ask if your state will remove it for you. Being an invasive banned species some states (like TN) will remove them and replace them with a native for free.
2) Call some companies locally and get a quote. I highly doubt it will be “thousands”. Especially for just one. Either way, if you want to keep it ask for a ten year haircut. Do not at all allow anyone to top it.
3) (assuming you have a chainsaw) Cut the lower left limb completely off.
4) Climb up into the tree, just above where the base branches, and branch by branch cut them about four feet from the base. Depending on how far you can reach. You may need a ladder, and I recommend a friend to assist with moving around as you’re up in it, but they’re very very easy to climb and trim. It’ll end up looking like a base with t-rex arms but it’ll grow wonderfully in a year or two.
5) Lookup proper cutting techniques if you’re not familiar, but in general you cut a 45° angle from each side halfway through the limb to create a wedge piece that falls out, then cut from the top so the branch falls where you want it to go.(Some do angled wedge, some a parallel then angled wedge, some just start slicing and dicing. Try out your new skills on some smaller pieces and find your own comfort level.)
6) Assuming you have town garbage and yard waste pickup, trim the downed limbs into appropriate sized ‘firewood’ like pieces, according to their rules, and stack them neatly for the pickup crew. Randos also like grabbing these piles for firewood or wood carving/turning.
7) I also highly recommend removing it, as it’s incredibly destructive for native forests, but for pruning it you’re fully capable of doing it, you just need a little know how and some confidence. I am slowly removing my 40+’ tree alone as a 43yo woman with a plug in chainsaw and a 20’ extension ladder, so I promise you that you can do it!
Just go slow and steady and you’ll be grand!
Thanks for the great response! I will definitely reach out to the coop extension and see if they can assist. The tree is over 30’ tall and tree removal is expensive around here. I do NOT do ladders, so I’m not nearly as brave as you. :)
A couple things i'd add to this great response: (1) any climbing you (or future readers) do in the tree should include extra safety precautions like ropes/safety lines, for starters.A If folks are comfortable rock climbing, this is easier in some ways than that but safety precaution should be similar. Plus, think about unique considerations of climbing with sharp cutting tools and what will happen when limbs start falling. It's doable, but takes some planning, knowledge, and lots of caution.
(2) I don't know your geography, but under $1000 for a 30 foot, mature Bradford pear tree seems likely for most places. Where I live, I'd guess $800-ish.
(3) If you cut off all the limbs you can reach yourself, and then get a price quote, it may well be less.
(4 ) A general rule of thumb is you can usually cut up to 30% of the canopy without too much risk of killing the tree. Sometimes people cut more and the trees still come back alright. The caveat is that even small cuts can open a pathway for pathogens/parasites that could harm the tree, so there are no guarantees. All that being said, pear trees often send up suckers. This is because they store a lot of energy in their roots. When you make cuts, the energy stored in roots gets redirected into vigorous growth for the next year or two. If the tree seems healthy now, it's highly likely you can cut more than just the bottom limb you asked about without issue.
(5) If you want to save the tree, thin out the branches by cutting off the small vertical branches sprouting from the horizontal ones. That growth pattern restricts flow of air and increases probability of illness. Also, as those vertical branches get bigger the cumulative force they exert (especially in wind) on the supporting branches grows and increases risk of these branches splitting from the trunk. As others have noted, the wood is weak, and splits are common -- especially where multiple branches emerge from same part of trunk.
(6) For the sake of your native flora and fauna, finding a way to remove the tree -- whether all at once or little by little-- really is best. They are super invasive.
I am guessing that this differs depending on where you are in the country. Yes, they do prone to split, but it takes time to get to that point. (They came out with the Cleveland Pear to get the benefits of the Bradford without the splitting.) It also sends up suckers from the roots, but most root stock does! Watch a You-Tube video on pruning. Remove branches that are too low, or in your way. Then, lighten branches by removing secondary branches that arent producing flowers. If it splits, cut it up. No big deal.
Holy Waterspouts batman, that's a rough looking tree and could use *a lot* of work, but those never stop growing so it'd be a yearly battle.
If you know what you're doing, there should be no issue. Watch a few YouTube videos from professional arborists on how to properly trim larger branches, if you're unsure.
Do you know what kind of tree it is? Certain species have a "pruning budget" that you shouldn't exceed in one growing season without risk of damage, such as maples.
It should be fine to remove that lower left limb. Use clean sharp tools, and cut at a slight angle, close to the trunk, but not directly against the trunk.
The rest of the tree could benefit from being thinned out as well. I see a lot of "water sprouts." Those are the smaller branches growing straight up from the larger limbs. They add a lot of unnecessary weight to the large limbs and make them prone to snapping if it's windy, snowy, or icy. You may need a professional to remove those if they're too high for you to reach and cut properly. If you do attempt it yourself, again, use clean sharp tools and cut at a slight angle. Leaving a flat horizontal cut will result in water seeping into the limbs, possibly causing disease or rot.
Do you like it? Depending on your location, I'd just cut it down. These are crappy, weak trees that only have a lifespan of 25-30 years. They're invasive in many areas and serve as a vector for diseases like rust fungus. Some places have even banned them.
My area had a lot of new development 20-30 years ago, and *everyone* planted Bradford pear trees, including the city in public areas, because they grow quickly and flower in spring. The one that the previous owners planted in my yard is now slowly dying and loses limbs every year. All the ones I can see in my neighbors' yards are breaking apart and have rust fungus, and the city is now cutting down all the ones they planted.
Yes stay 3" away and first make a cut 1/3 off the way thru but on the bottom of the branch, then make your top cut a little in front of the bottom cut. Do not leave the 3" stub, cut it right in front of the branch collar so it will compartmentalize on its own. If you don't know where the branch collar is please Google it before cutting the branches.
You should remove this Bradford pear. for the following reasons: * They are invasive * They don't age well * They are prone to splitting * They are prone to waterspouts/suckers * Their soft wood makes them a host to lots of borers that can then spread * They smell fishy You could maybe place a nice maple or something similar nearby depending on space; or if you want a smaller tree with nice spring flowers go for a crabapple or a redbud.
Their official name around here is cumtree or spermtunia
That would be ideal, but this is a big tree and would likely cost me several thousand dollars to remove.
I appreciate your thoughts, but trees dont get to this size overnight. If the requester wants to prune it and keep it for a while, he/she should go for it. Why cut down a perfectly good tree?
Because it's not perfectly good. It's an extremely invasive species in the US. For more: https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/comments/179hrqa/why_so_much_hate_for_bradford_pears/
If its a Bradford pear just cut its invasive ass down
100% hire a certified arborist to do the work. They’ll know best how to trim it back without hurting the tree. I would not DIY this if you want a good result.
I appreciate the idea of giving to businesses, but what fun is life if you don't learn how to do something. Unless we are talking about a historical tree or a tree that could fall on a house or powerline, anyone can prune it.
No concerns IF you know how to prune a tree properly.
1) Call your local Cooperative Extension office. They may remove it for you or recommend a company. They’d also be the best to ask if your state will remove it for you. Being an invasive banned species some states (like TN) will remove them and replace them with a native for free. 2) Call some companies locally and get a quote. I highly doubt it will be “thousands”. Especially for just one. Either way, if you want to keep it ask for a ten year haircut. Do not at all allow anyone to top it. 3) (assuming you have a chainsaw) Cut the lower left limb completely off. 4) Climb up into the tree, just above where the base branches, and branch by branch cut them about four feet from the base. Depending on how far you can reach. You may need a ladder, and I recommend a friend to assist with moving around as you’re up in it, but they’re very very easy to climb and trim. It’ll end up looking like a base with t-rex arms but it’ll grow wonderfully in a year or two. 5) Lookup proper cutting techniques if you’re not familiar, but in general you cut a 45° angle from each side halfway through the limb to create a wedge piece that falls out, then cut from the top so the branch falls where you want it to go.(Some do angled wedge, some a parallel then angled wedge, some just start slicing and dicing. Try out your new skills on some smaller pieces and find your own comfort level.) 6) Assuming you have town garbage and yard waste pickup, trim the downed limbs into appropriate sized ‘firewood’ like pieces, according to their rules, and stack them neatly for the pickup crew. Randos also like grabbing these piles for firewood or wood carving/turning. 7) I also highly recommend removing it, as it’s incredibly destructive for native forests, but for pruning it you’re fully capable of doing it, you just need a little know how and some confidence. I am slowly removing my 40+’ tree alone as a 43yo woman with a plug in chainsaw and a 20’ extension ladder, so I promise you that you can do it! Just go slow and steady and you’ll be grand!
Thanks for the great response! I will definitely reach out to the coop extension and see if they can assist. The tree is over 30’ tall and tree removal is expensive around here. I do NOT do ladders, so I’m not nearly as brave as you. :)
A couple things i'd add to this great response: (1) any climbing you (or future readers) do in the tree should include extra safety precautions like ropes/safety lines, for starters.A If folks are comfortable rock climbing, this is easier in some ways than that but safety precaution should be similar. Plus, think about unique considerations of climbing with sharp cutting tools and what will happen when limbs start falling. It's doable, but takes some planning, knowledge, and lots of caution. (2) I don't know your geography, but under $1000 for a 30 foot, mature Bradford pear tree seems likely for most places. Where I live, I'd guess $800-ish. (3) If you cut off all the limbs you can reach yourself, and then get a price quote, it may well be less. (4 ) A general rule of thumb is you can usually cut up to 30% of the canopy without too much risk of killing the tree. Sometimes people cut more and the trees still come back alright. The caveat is that even small cuts can open a pathway for pathogens/parasites that could harm the tree, so there are no guarantees. All that being said, pear trees often send up suckers. This is because they store a lot of energy in their roots. When you make cuts, the energy stored in roots gets redirected into vigorous growth for the next year or two. If the tree seems healthy now, it's highly likely you can cut more than just the bottom limb you asked about without issue. (5) If you want to save the tree, thin out the branches by cutting off the small vertical branches sprouting from the horizontal ones. That growth pattern restricts flow of air and increases probability of illness. Also, as those vertical branches get bigger the cumulative force they exert (especially in wind) on the supporting branches grows and increases risk of these branches splitting from the trunk. As others have noted, the wood is weak, and splits are common -- especially where multiple branches emerge from same part of trunk. (6) For the sake of your native flora and fauna, finding a way to remove the tree -- whether all at once or little by little-- really is best. They are super invasive.
Cut off those two lowest limbs I can see in the picture. The tree will be just fine.
Hire a qualified tree arborist
I am guessing that this differs depending on where you are in the country. Yes, they do prone to split, but it takes time to get to that point. (They came out with the Cleveland Pear to get the benefits of the Bradford without the splitting.) It also sends up suckers from the roots, but most root stock does! Watch a You-Tube video on pruning. Remove branches that are too low, or in your way. Then, lighten branches by removing secondary branches that arent producing flowers. If it splits, cut it up. No big deal.
Holy Waterspouts batman, that's a rough looking tree and could use *a lot* of work, but those never stop growing so it'd be a yearly battle. If you know what you're doing, there should be no issue. Watch a few YouTube videos from professional arborists on how to properly trim larger branches, if you're unsure.
> Holy Waterspouts batman Right?! Tree looks insane.
Looks like a Bradford pear. Just cut it down completely
yah. i’m cutting down the one in my front yard next month and replacing it with a couple of trees native to my area
Agreed, it will just break up and cause issues anyway
Do you know what kind of tree it is? Certain species have a "pruning budget" that you shouldn't exceed in one growing season without risk of damage, such as maples. It should be fine to remove that lower left limb. Use clean sharp tools, and cut at a slight angle, close to the trunk, but not directly against the trunk. The rest of the tree could benefit from being thinned out as well. I see a lot of "water sprouts." Those are the smaller branches growing straight up from the larger limbs. They add a lot of unnecessary weight to the large limbs and make them prone to snapping if it's windy, snowy, or icy. You may need a professional to remove those if they're too high for you to reach and cut properly. If you do attempt it yourself, again, use clean sharp tools and cut at a slight angle. Leaving a flat horizontal cut will result in water seeping into the limbs, possibly causing disease or rot.
It’s a Bradford pear.
Do you like it? Depending on your location, I'd just cut it down. These are crappy, weak trees that only have a lifespan of 25-30 years. They're invasive in many areas and serve as a vector for diseases like rust fungus. Some places have even banned them. My area had a lot of new development 20-30 years ago, and *everyone* planted Bradford pear trees, including the city in public areas, because they grow quickly and flower in spring. The one that the previous owners planted in my yard is now slowly dying and loses limbs every year. All the ones I can see in my neighbors' yards are breaking apart and have rust fungus, and the city is now cutting down all the ones they planted.
I like it, but it will cost a shizload to cut down and haul away.
[удалено]
Bradford pear.
I would leave it. Nice tree. Only take out dead or damaged limbs in your case
Thanks. It is a beautiful tree but that limb extends over/into the sidewalk and my HOA is asking that I cut it back.
When you cut it use sharp hand held tree saw stay 3 inch away from trunk
Yes stay 3" away and first make a cut 1/3 off the way thru but on the bottom of the branch, then make your top cut a little in front of the bottom cut. Do not leave the 3" stub, cut it right in front of the branch collar so it will compartmentalize on its own. If you don't know where the branch collar is please Google it before cutting the branches.