NC Bradford Pear Bounty program: Remove a Bradford Pear Tree and get a free native tree

Do you have a Bradford Pear Tree on your property? You could get a free native tree from the NC Bradford Pear Bounty program if you cut down the Bradford Pear. 

The Bradford Pear Bounty is a collaborative program between NC State Extension, NC Urban Forest Council, NC Forest Service and NC Wildlife Federation.

Why remove the Bradford Pear? 

Bradford Pear trees are not native to the United States.​ These trees are cultivars of the Callery pear, which was brought to the U.S. from China in the early 1900s in an attempt to hybridize them and improve disease resistance of pear trees. By 1950, the Bradford pear cultivar had been planted widely, and other cultivars have been produced since.
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It was believed that these trees would not be able to spread. However, different cultivars are able to cross, allowing them to escape into our natural forests. These trees spread quickly, allowing them to outcompete native species. Because they produce leaves earlier than other trees, Callery pear trees can shade out native plants. 

NC Bradford Pear Bounty

In addition, the trees are structurally weak and often break during storms. 

Lastly, many people find the blooms unpleasant smelling. Like fish.

You might also be interested in TreesCharlotte, a program that is helping to build the tree canopy of the City of Charlotte by offering residents free trees.

How the Bradford Pear Bounty program works

The organization holds in-person events, and the only way to get the replacement tree is to attend one of these events.

You can live anywhere in North Carolina, as long as you can make it to one of the events (see below.)

If you have one or more Bradford Pear trees on your property, take a picture of the tree. Then cut it down or have someone else cut it down. Take a picture of the tree on the ground. If it’s not flowering you’ll need to take a close-up picture of the leaves and/or bark, to verify that it’s a Bradford Pear.

You must be the homeowner. (You can’t go around and cut down trees on someone else’s property or on property that you rent.)

Register for an event. Bring the pictures to the event.

At the event there will be several variety of native trees available on a first come first serve basis. One native tree will be exchanged for each Bradford Pear that was removed, up to the limit for the event.

The replacement trees will come in 3 or 5 gallon containers and will be approximately 1″ caliper. the height of the tree will vary when grown, based on the species selected.

Upcoming Bradford Pear Bounty Events

Here are the upcoming events. Remember, you don’t have to live the town or city that’s hosting the event. You just have to be in North Carolina and able to get to the event.

Town of Matthews
October 15th, 2022
9 to 11 a.m.
Matthews United Methodist Church
801 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Register here

Monroe
October 22nd, 2022
9 to 11 a.m.
Union County Agricultural and Event Complex
3230-D Presson Road, Monroe, NC
Register here

Who cuts down the Bradford Pear?

You, as the homeowner, are responsible for cutting down the tree. You either do it yourself or hire a professional to cut it down.

Carolina Tree Care and Heartwood Tree Service are both offering a 15% discount for Bradford Pear tree removals participating in this program.

 

Upcoming Events in the Charlotte area

Check out our full events calendar, where you can enter any date, or look at the events for the next few days here: