| I just purchased a Bradford Pear tree at Home Depot and plan to plant it next weekend, what do I need to know about planting and caring for this new tree? |
| Bradford Pear is a flowering non-fruiting grafted hybrid that makes a very nice tree to plant along the driveway or street where space is limited and where it can be seen. The Bradford Flowering Pear gets covered in white flowers in the early spring. These trees can grow up to 40 feet tall, and can be planted from Zones 6 to 9. This means they can be enjoyed over much of the country. They hold a narrow shape, so depending on the need and desired look, they can be planted as close as six feet apart, but eight to twelve feet apart is more commonly done. Besides the masses of flowers and narrow shape, Bradford Pears are hardy and disease resistant. Many municipalities plant them along streets because the roots are not invasive like some trees, and the mature height won't interfere with overhead power lines. The fall color is yellow, and also a nice added feature of this tree. Your new tree will grow best in full sunshine, in average, well draining soil. Dig a hole slightly deeper and about the same width as the container it is now in. Roughen up the soil at the bottom and along the sides of the hole, then unpot the tree and set it in the hole so that it will be at the same soil level as it was in the container. Backfill with native soil and then water well to help settle the soil. To get your tree off to a good start, water deeply once each week during the growing season. Enjoy your new tree! |
