Bradford Pear Tree Facts

The Bradford deciduous pear tree is grown more for its ornamental value than fruit production. It belongs to the same family as the apple Maloideae and genus Pyrus. Botanically, it is known as Pyrus calleryana. The Bradford is the oldest pear tree, and can be found with its beautiful spring flowers enlivening many landscapes. Bradford is one of the most well-known flowering tree varieties.

Facts about Bradford Pear Tree
This tree, with its wide, rounded branching, is actually as the name suggests, 'pear shaped'. The tree is a fast grower, and when watered and fed well in its early years, will grow very quickly, reaching a height of 12 to 15 feet in just five years. The tree can grow up to 50 feet in height with a 30 feet spread. It thrives in most soils, climatic and environmental conditions similar to the Pacific coast. Bradford can easily be classified as a shade tree that bears very attractive white snowy flowers in clusters in spring. It turns even more dramatic when its bright flossy green color foliage turns yellow to red to purple color in fall.

Bradford pear leaves are glossy, thick and broadly oval. Their edges give a very wavy appearance. The tree's roots are shallow, hence not very fussy about soil. It just needs good amount of watering and fertilizing. The pH balance of the soil should be maintained at four to seven, as it helps in a better flower show. They grow very well in zones 5 - 9. Use fertilizers for your Bradford when you see flower buds sprouting on its bare branches. Mulching around a young Bradford tree with different types of mulch will help establish it quickly.

Pear Tree Diseases
Bradford is quite pest resistant, but there are a few diseases that can infect it. Blackening of leaves, especially on its underside is a type of leaf scorch that results from root stress problems. The tree usually gets infected with this fungus during fall and spring when there is moisture in the environment. Leaf scorch should be treated in time, else it will result in Bradford pear tree leaf drop and poor foliage show. Web worms is a type of insect that can inflict a lot of damage to the Bradford flowering pear tree. Web worms belong to the Arctiidae family, and can be easily identified by the characteristic webbed nests they weave on the underside of the leaves. New cultivations of Bradford are mostly fireblight resistant, but your pear tree still needs to be guarded from it. Fireblight is a disease caused by a bacterium that blackens the ends of twigs and leaves, and can spread to the flowers and fruits as well.

Pruning Bradford
One of the reasons that this tree has fallen out of favor among landscapers is the problems associated with its weak structure. Its beautiful uptight branches that add to the trees ornamentation are very weak, especially in the older trees. They cannot withstand snowfall and heavy winds. Pruning Bradford pear tree is the only way one can reduce the damage. Prune the tree when it's young, make room for multiple trunks that will help develop a strong structure. Prune away all the diseased and damaged branches. But remember to carry out all pruning before the flower buds sprout in spring, or early winters.

I hope the above mentioned facts will help make your decision regarding planting a Bradford clearer.