Question 1: We have seven beautiful Bradford Pear trees in our yard -- six in the back and one in the front. The one in the front split and during a good storm last year, half of it fell over. We were able to cut the remaining limbs back and are in the process of trying to salvage the tree.

Our problem is that the tree service person said we need to top and trim the remaining trees because they have grown too big and the same fate (toppling over) may befall them as well. Why have these trees supposedly grown too big? And why do then need to be topped and trimmed? Is it necessary? Please advise.

Answer 1: The splitting of the Bradford pear is a very common problem. It's not that it just suddenly happened, it's just that it finally got too large and the limbs too heavy. The way they grow, - with very "v" shaped crotches, lends it self to this problem..

The very last thing you want to do is top them. What you want to do is thin out the branches at the crotches. This will relieve the stress and weight above.

When you top a tree, you interrupt the natural hormone balance. The terminal buds ( buds at the very end of the branch) produce a chemical called auxin. This reduces shoot growth along the sides of the limb. If you cut off the terminal buds which happens when you top a tree, the auxin can no longer prevent this shoot growth. The result is an enormous amount of sprout growth from the point where the cut was made. This would create a huge amount of extra weight at the top of the tree where you want it the least.

For more information on Certified Arborists, refer to http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/DGP/DGP127.pdf and if you would like to locate a Certified Arborist in your area, refer to http://www.ipm.msu.edu/CAT05_land/L05-20-05.htm#3.

Taking care of trees is a matter of understanding how they grow naturally and using that understanding when we take care of them - either pruning, fertilizing, mulching, whatever we do. This produces healthy beautiful trees that are so beneficial to us.

-- Rita McKenzie, Urban Forester

Question 2: I am writing you from Lincoln NE and we have recently had a devastating snow storm that took approximately 66% of my bradford tree down. The remaining 33% is obviously growing to one side and is an eyesore. Is there any hope for the tree to make a recovery?

Answer 2: Bradford pears are extremely brittle in an ice or snow storm and I suspect the folks in Nebraska will observe this following their recent experience. I have observed this problem across the country and no longer recommend the bradford pear as a tree suitable for the Midwest. It is a shame that such a beautiful tree has a fatal flaw that does not show up until it gets larger and experiences an ice or snow storm.

There is little one can do if 66% of the tree has been lost. The plant will be a cripple the rest of it's life because of it's unique growth habit. My recommendation is to remove it and plant another species that is less susceptible to snow and ice damage.

Sorry for such discouraging news.

--Bruno Moser, Purdue University Horticulturist

Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.

The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Any person using products listed assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current direction of the manufacturer. Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution.