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, 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.
So, you have time.
But NOW is the time to tag trees as they come into flower. They are so easy to identify. Even driving 70 MPH down the freeway, they are very obvious.
Interestingly, probably not far from the freeway is a housing development who used pears extensively in home landscapes or as a street tree. They looked beautiful but didn’t behave as a sterile tree as advertised. 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. 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!
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.