I love my beautiful Bradford Pear, BUT...

[SportsFan68]

All y'all who live where it snows, I recommend that you do not plant an ornamental Bradford Pear tree. They are beautiful, but ours has twice shed a huge branch when a little bit of snow built up on the branches. Last time we had a heavy snow, I knocked the snow off the branches, but this time, it didn't even snow that much, maybe a half inch. The poor thing, its days are numbered. It will be turned into mulch this spring, if it makes it that long.

[BackInTex]

We had one in our front yard in Wichita. It was great for 7 1/2 years. The December we moved, we got a heavy snow and it lost a large limb and was very lopsided after that.

[jaybee]

Doesn't even take snow. Bradford pears are going to split apart in about 10-12 years - unless that happens faster due to snow load. Never plant them near a building or anything that can get damaged when they fall.

[SportsFan68]

Thanks, Jaybee. I did not know that. Both branches we've lost have followed heavy, wet snowfall.

I just E-mailed our wood cutting buddy. I'm thinking if he cuts it down and chops it up, he can have the wood.

[silvercamaro]

Thanks, Jaybee. I did not know that. Both branches we've lost have followed heavy, wet snowfall.

I just E-mailed our wood cutting buddy. I'm thinking if he cuts it down and chops it up, he can have the wood.

If the tree is big enough, and you know a woodcrafter/furniture maker, he may want the wood even more than somebody who just wants to burn it. When our huge Bradford pear went down a decade back, the tree guys gave us a half-price discount for removal because they knew there were some big, thick logs with a nice grain. (That's how I remember it, anyway.)

Never mind. If you've already emailed your buddy, I guess he has first dibs.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Yep, Bradford pear trees are pretty, but it turns out they have a limited longevity -- they're as fragile as Sam Bowie's legs.

[TheCalvinator24]

Ours is 13 1/2 years old. I trimmed the lower half about 5 years ago. I hope that staved off it splitting before we can get the house sold.

[SportsFan68]

Ours is 13 1/2 years old. I trimmed the lower half about 5 years ago. I hope that staved off it splitting before we can get the house sold.

Yes, the beauty of it increases the curb appeal. Fortunately, we're not trying to sell this house. The house we are selling will, I suspect, soon lose its beautiful box elders. They're just not as beautiful as they were in their youth, 60 or more years ago.