Bradford Pears' Invasive Spread Prompts US States to Ban Sales, Prompting Control Efforts
Murray State's Doran Arboretum is hosting an Earth Day event on April 26, featuring a tree giveaway. Meanwhile, efforts to control invasive Bradford pear trees are underway across the US, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina banning their sale and cultivation.
The Riverlands Alliance Invasive Species Team (RAIST) is leading the charge against invasive species with a Field Day on April 12. Bradford pear trees, introduced by the USDA in the 1960s and promoted by Lady Bird Johnson, have become a widespread problem across the US. These trees outcompete native species, shade out understory plants, and are difficult to control. Two common methods to manage them are 'cut stump' and 'hack and squirt'. Homeowners are encouraged to remove Bradford pear trees to help native trees thrive. Birds unintentionally spread their seeds, enabling rapid and long-distance dispersal.
Bradford pear trees, once praised for their beauty, are now listed as an invasive species by the USDA. As states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina ban their sale and cultivation, efforts like the RAIST Field Day and the Earth Day event at Murray State's Doran Arboretum highlight the importance of controlling these invasive trees to protect native ecosystems.
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