Bradford Pear = Lemon?

[BRL]

I saw this interesting article in my paper the other day about the demise of this tree's popularity.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1064901322162440.xml

[Homer]

That's a good article and a factual one as well. The trees that I have at my accounts are nearing that age I'm sure. I had one to break this summer (probably from all the rain) It just split and half the tree was laying over on the ground. I wish I had read this earlier, I planted 2 in my yard in July!

[PSUscaper]

That article is really getting around!

Just today at lunch time my irrigation guy said something about pear trees being a bad choice. I asked him if he had been reading the paper and he said yes...

I don't think it is really anything new though. 9 years ago in freshmen hort classes are professors told us pear trees were weak and easily broken.

No matter what, the pear fills a spot that few street trees can duplicate. Nothing is more beutiful than a boulevard lined with flowering pears in the spring.

As my ex-girlfriend use to say, 'beauty always has a price'!

steve

[RyanVT2005]

Bradford Pears, or any one of the many cultivars should stop being planted in any kind of landscape. There are many many many other options for a tree that is beautiful and well shaped. The pears tight crotches and weak wood that anyone is the landscape industry should run from.

[Lawngodfather]

AS much as I love Bradford's, I don't want to cut it down in 15-20 years....