Drive through almost any Franklin, Spring Hill, or Brentwood neighborhood built in the past few decades and you will see Bradford pears lining the streets and front yards. They were planted for their fast growth and spring blooms, and many of them are now reaching the age when they start to fall apart.
The problem is built into the tree's structure. Bradford pears grow many upright limbs from nearly the same point on the trunk, with narrow, V-shaped unions that trap bark inside instead of forming strong wood. As the tree gets larger and heavier, those unions weaken, and one gusty storm or ice load can split the tree right down the middle.
Fall is a good time to take a look before winter weather arrives. Watch for cracks running down from a branch union, limbs that have started to spread apart, or a canopy that has grown wide and dense. Many homeowners are also choosing to replace aging pears with sturdier, longer-lived trees like native oaks, maples, or redbuds, which offer far more for the decades ahead.
Is there a Bradford pear in your yard, and has it ever dropped a limb on you?
#FranklinTN #BradfordPear
A real Franklin Tree Service photo of a Bradford (Callery) pear with a split trunk or a large torn limb, ideally from a local job. A close-up of the narrow, V-shaped branch unions is a strong second image. Authentic job photos only.
Canva text suggestion: "Why Bradford Pears Split Apart" or "Narrow Crotches, Heavy Limbs, Weak Pears"