Callery Pear Eradication? Now is a great time to tag for removal.

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The impact of the sheer numbers of flowering pear can go unnoticed. But not this time of year. As one of the first flowering trees of the season,

 

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now is a great time to tag them for later removal. The key is to know what trees should be removed before they set fruit.

 

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So, you have time.

 

But NOW is the time to tag trees as they come into flower.

 

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They are so easy to identify.

 

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Even driving 70 MPH down the freeway, they are very obvious.

 

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Interestingly, probably not far from the freeway is a housing development who used pears extensively in home landscapes or as a street tree.

 

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They looked beautiful but didn’t behave as a sterile tree as advertised.

 

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And birds love to help distribute seeds as Joe Boggs pointed out in the attached post:

 

https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2286

 

It is illegal to buy or sell Ornamental Flowering Pear Trees in Ohio as of January 7th, 2023:

 

https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2083

 

But they are the tree that keeps on giving, or invading.

 

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The suggestion is to get out and tag the flowering trees now.

 

Then, sometime before fruit is set, go out and remove the trees. A great fact sheet on invasive plant removal is attached:

 

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/f-65

 

Although the fact sheet is written to control Tree of Heaven, some of the same techniques can be employed.

 

In addition, Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a document regarding Callery Pear:

 

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/invasive-plants/callery-pear

 

Also, a general fact sheet on Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland can be found here:

 

https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/sites/woodlands/files/d6/files/pubfiles/0045.pdf

 

The take home message is if you want to reduce Callery Pear in your landscape or woodlot, now’s the time to tag!

 

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But one caution, before you head out into the woods, be tick safe. A great website from OSU that is all about ticks can be found here:

 

https://u.osu.edu/zika/ticks/

 

A document about treating yourself of clothing to prevent tick bites is below:

 

https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/prevention/protect-yourself/

 

Happy hunting on tagging pears.