Bradford pear trees are a common landscape tree in yards across Kentucky. A cultivar of the Callery pear species, the spring-flowering trees are stunning in bloom but have a smell commonly compared to “dead fish.” These trees’ offspring, the invasive Callery pear, can also take over old fields and roadside vegetation, and even invade higher quality natural areas.  The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and their partners are working to help remedy these problems for landowners through an upcoming tree replacement program. 

UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, in collaboration with the Remove Invasives Partnership of Franklin County, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, will host two Bradford Pear Bounty Tree Exchange programs this year, one in Frankfort and one in Lexington. At these events, property owners in Kentucky will be able to trade their Bradford pears for an equal number of free, young native replacement trees. 

“This fall we are so excited to add a bounty program in Lexington in addition to last year’s Franklin County program,” said Ellen Crocker, UK assistant professor of forest health extension in the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.  

The first event will occur Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. EDT at the Franklin County Extension office. The second will take place at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, located in Fayette County, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. Both are open to all Kentucky residents.  

Due to their weak wood and restricted branching, experts no longer recommend Callery pear cultivars like the Bradford pear as landscape trees. Large limbs frequently break during storms, resulting in property damage and loss of landscape-enhancing plant life. These trees also have a relatively short lifespan when exposed to wind, ice and snow. 

Property owners must remove their Bradford pears and submit a photo showing the removed trees in order to receive the free replacement trees. Fayette County residents also have the option of city arborists cutting down their Callery pear street trees for no charge. There will be a selection of native trees available, and tree specialists will be on hand to assist landowners in selecting the ones that will work best on their property. 

“These new trees are native trees that will be a better fit long-term than Callery pear,” Crocker said. “Native trees provide so much, and it will give property owners a chance to help the health of their community.”   

To register for the Franklin County event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2022-franklin-co-bradford-pear-bounty-tickets-419005977157. To register for the Lexington event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2022-fayette-co-bradford-pear-bounty-tickets-423707499537. 

The Arboretum will also be hosting a free Callery pear workshop and native tree walk as part of their Arbor Day programming on Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. EDT where visitors can learn more about the impacts that Callery pears have on the landscape and see native tree alternatives in person.