How to Repair Damage to a Bradford Pear Tree

Bradford pear trees are vigorous, fast-growing ornamental trees. Extremely popular for their pleasant oval shape and beautiful orange-yellow fall color, they also have soft, brittle wood. Bradford pear has a tendency to send up vigorous, vertical branches that form close together on the trunk, making it very susceptible to breakage from ice, snow and wind. Though Bradford pear has a naturally short life, you may extend it with good pruning practices and prompt attention to storm damage.

Things You'll Need

• Long-handled pruning shears
• Pruning saw
• Sharp knife
• Yard waste bags
• Fertilizer
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Trim out broken branches with a pruning saw if they are wider than 2 inches in diameter. Use pruning shears if they are smaller. Angle the cutting blades, cutting down and away from the trunk to leave a 1/4-inch stub that will drain moisture instead of collecting it.

2. Trim torn bark on the trunk back to healthy tissue with a sharp knife. Clean, straight will help the wound stay dry and it will heal faster with less chance of disease or insect infestation.

3. Dispose of pruning limbs in yard waste bags, compost them or chip them for mulch. Don't allow leaf litter or dead wood to collect at the base of the tree.

4. Fertilize the Bradford pear tree with a 10-10-10 formula in spring to help it recover. Apply the fertilizer according to package instructions. Provide 2 inches of water after fertilizing.

5. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch over the root zone of the Bradford pear, starting 6 inches away from the trunk. This will reduce competition from weeds and grass, helping the tree recover faster.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't allow mulch to pile up against the trunk the tree. Mulch holds moisture and will cause bark rot and girdling if it remains in contact with the trunk.

References

• LSU AgCenter Research & Extension: Pruning Bradford Pear
• Purdue Extension: Bradford Pear Damaged by Storm
• University of Illinois Extension: Repair Storm Damaged Trees with Care

Resources

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Prunus calleryana