WEAK WOODED TREES

Most homeowners won't want to replant the same trees that failed them so miserably during the recent storm. The first tree that comes to mind is Bradford Pear. Sure, there are other varieties of ornamental Pears that may have weathered the storm somewhat better, but overall, this species is way overplanted.

Landscapes and neighborhoods that planted rows of Bradford Pears, instead of "mixing it up" with various other trees, have relearned the tough lesson of monoculture: When you plant all one variety, you are subject to devastating results. We saw it with the Elms that were wiped-out by Dutch Elm Disease, the Ash trees that are falling by the millions to Emerald Ash Borer, and in this case, untold numbers of Bradford Pears broken-up by wet, heavy snow.

One of the many Bradford Pears destroyed
by the heavy snows of February 2010

  
Clients will be calling on landscape professionals to help them make their new choices. Variety is said to be "the spice of life." In this case, variety is the key to long term success. When 'mixing it up' with different varieties of plants you are much less likely to suffer devastating losses, whether it comes from insects, disease or heavy snow.
  
Think Spring!   
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