The snarl of a chainsaw never sounds sweeter than when slicing through the trunk of a nasty Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana). I have railed against the spring-blooming, white-flowering tree for years.

Let me back up and explain. Ornamental pear trees (many of you call them Bradford pears) have one of the worst branching habits of any tree ever released in the trade. This tree has a number of ...

Ornamental pear, Pyrus calleryana, includes a number of specific cultivars or varieties of trees. The variety ‘Bradford’ is the most famous. Other varieties include ‘Aristocrat,’ ‘Autumn ...

The best way to avoid sprouts when taking out a Bradford pear tree is to have an arborist grind the stump out.

Dear Reader: Bradford and other ornamental pears are grafted onto rootstocks ... Have them take the crown of the tree out as well as all major roots. Hopefully they’ll be easy to eliminate.

Let me explain. Pear trees, specifically the ornamental cultivar Bradford pear, are looked down upon by many modern gardeners, landscapers and conservationists for a number of reasons. We’ll get ...