Bradford pear is the best-known cultivar of Callery pear, a tree from Asia that was planted along streets and in yards for its white spring flowers. Today it is widely seen as a problem tree: it breaks apart in storms, its flowers smell unpleasant, and its offspring spread into fields and woodlands. Getting rid of one sounds simple, but Callery pear resprouts strongly when it is cut, so the method matters.

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The short answer: small seedlings, usually under 2 feet tall, can be pulled when the soil is moist, roots and all. For larger trees, Ohio State University Extension says cutting alone is generally not advisable because Callery pear resprouts prolifically; the cut stump needs an herbicide treatment, or the standing tree can be treated with a basal bark or hack-and-squirt application. Big trees near houses or lines are a job for a certified arborist.

Why Bradford pears are worth removing

Ohio State University Extension explains that Callery pear was widely planted because people believed it could not produce viable seeds. The first cultivar, Bradford, could not pollinate itself, but once many different cultivars were planted, Callery pears began producing viable seed. The Morton Arboretum notes that animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds. The Morton Arboretum lists Callery pear as invasive, says the thickets it forms are often thorny and hard to remove, and notes that Callery pear will be classified as an exotic weed in Illinois from 1 January 2028. Ohio has already banned planting it, according to OSU Extension.

There is also a safety reason. The Georgia Forestry Commission explains that Bradford pear’s rounded crown comes from many branches growing from a short section of trunk. As those branches thicken, they crowd each other and weaken their attachments, so the trees tend to split apart, sometimes losing up to half the crown at once. NC State Extension also notes that the branches have weak crotches that break with age, wind and ice.

First, confirm it is a Callery pear

OSU Extension describes Callery pear leaves as simple, alternate, shiny green and 2 to 3 inches long with slightly toothed edges. White, five-petaled flowers appear in early spring with a distinctive, unpleasant smell. The fruits are small, hard and greenish-yellow. If you are not sure whether your tree is a fruiting pear or a Callery pear, see how to tell which pear tree you have.

Option 1: Pull or dig seedlings

OSU Extension says hand-pulling Callery pear seedlings, usually less than 2 feet tall, can be practical where seedlings are small. It works best when the soil is moist or saturated, so the whole root system comes out.

Nebraska Extension gives the same advice for weedy trees in general: pull straight up with even pressure, because seedlings that snap off at ground level will regrow from the crown. Seedlings that are too well rooted to pull can be dug out with a shovel.

OSU Extension adds a warning: cutting seedlings and saplings without treating the stump leads to regrowth, especially in sun, and controlling them by cutting alone takes several rounds of cutting over several years.

Option 2: Cut the tree and treat the stump

For medium and large trees, OSU Extension describes the cut-stump method as effective. The tree is cut close to the ground and herbicide is applied to the cut surface, and sometimes the bark, while keeping the spray on target.

The timing depends on the product type:

Product type	When to apply after cutting
Water-based herbicide	Within a few minutes of the cut
Oil-based herbicide	Less time-sensitive, but before the stump resprouts

OSU Extension says an oil-based product should cover the sapwood, cambium and outer bark down to ground level, and that the whole exposed surface can be treated on smaller stumps. Nebraska Extension lists glyphosate and triclopyr among herbicides commonly used for cut-stump treatment of weedy trees.

Cutting down a large Bradford pear is not a casual job. These trees can split unpredictably, and the Georgia Forestry Commission notes they sometimes fail even when there has been no recent wind. Hire a certified arborist for any tree that could hit a house, fence, vehicle or power line on the way down.

Option 3: Treat the standing tree

Where a tree can safely be left standing until it dies, two methods avoid cutting first.

Basal bark. OSU Extension describes spraying the lower 12 to 18 inches of the uncut trunk with an herbicide in an oil-based carrier. It says the ideal time is late spring to early fall, though it can be done any time the ground is dry and not frozen.
Hack-and-squirt. Downward-angled cuts are made around the trunk with a hatchet and herbicide is applied into each cut. OSU Extension notes that trees connected through root grafts can sometimes be affected too.

A dead tree left standing will eventually drop branches, so only use these methods away from people, buildings and paths.

Option 4: Spray small trees and resprouts

OSU Extension says a foliar spray can control small Callery pear trees under about 4 feet tall, applied when the leaves are green and actively growing. If a tree has been cut without a stump treatment, it can be allowed to resprout to 1 to 2 feet and then sprayed, though it may resprout more than once.

Always follow the herbicide label

Every herbicide mentioned here must be used exactly as its label directs. OSU Extension stresses that it is a legal requirement for the product to be labeled for the site where you use it, and that near streams or ponds a product labeled for aquatic use is required by law. Keep sprays off plants you want to keep, and keep children and pets away from treated areas.

After removal: what to watch for

Sprouts from the stump or roots. Check the area for several seasons and treat or pull new growth while it is small.
New seedlings nearby. Birds may have spread seeds from other Callery pears in the neighborhood.
What to plant instead. NC State Extension lists less problematic alternatives such as serviceberry (Amelanchier), eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) and Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas).

If you would rather keep your tree for now, see how to prune a Bradford pear to reduce the risk of splitting.

Key takeaways

Bradford pear is a Callery pear, which is listed as invasive and is prone to splitting.
Pull seedlings under about 2 feet tall when the soil is moist.
Cutting a larger tree without treating the stump usually leads to vigorous resprouting.
Cut-stump, basal bark and hack-and-squirt treatments are the main options for bigger trees; follow the label exactly.
Use a certified arborist for large trees near buildings, fences or power lines.

Sources

Controlling Non-Native Plants in Ohio Forests: Callery Pear (ANR-0218), Ohio State University Extension
Callery Pear, The Morton Arboretum
Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Salvaging the Bradford Pear, Georgia Forestry Commission
Woody Weeds – Controlling Volunteer Trees, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Top photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Get Rid of Bradford Pear Trees