Debate time: Are we still planting too many Bradford Pears in new developments?

I drive past a new subdivision going up in Franklin, and every single street is lined with those trees. We all know they're weak, split after 15 years, and crowd out native plants. But the builders say they're cheap, grow fast, and look good for the sale. I think it's a short-term fix that creates a decade of hazard work for us. What's the better play for a developer who needs quick shade on a budget?

2 comments

2 Comments

hill.barbara15d ago

Check the price on a red maple or a swamp white oak. They cost a bit more upfront but last for generations. It's pure laziness to keep using a tree that's basically a ticking time bomb.

nancy_garcia6315d ago

My neighbor planted a Bradford pear ten years ago and it split right down the middle in a mild ice storm last winter. The cleanup cost more than the tree did. You're right about them being a time bomb, the weak branch structure is a known issue. I saw a whole article from a university extension service warning people not to plant them anymore. It's frustrating because they're sold everywhere.