Cut Them Down! For Immediate Release City of Kirkwood Removes Invasive Bradford Pear Trees March 30, 2012 Kirkwood, Missouri: The City of Kirkwood removed a group of Callery pears (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’), commonly known as Bradford Pear trees, along Adams Avenue, near Kirkwood Park, the week of March 26, 2012. The decision to remove the trees, which was done with the approval of the Kirkwood Park Board, was based on several factors. Callery Pears have recently been placed on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s list of undesirables due to their ability to cross-pollinate with indigenous plums and cherry trees, creating an invasive cultivar with thorns. The trees along Adams, which may have appeared healthy to the casual observer, were also showing advanced signs of trunk and limb failure, which could potentially result in damage to the new tennis courts in Kirkwood Park, should they break and fall. They also posed a potential risk of injury to tennis players, passing pedestrians, and vehicular traffic. The trees will be replaced with Bracken’s Brown Beauty southern magnolias, which are 10 to 12 feet in height and a cold-hardy variety. During milder winters, this species will stay green, which should enhance their screening capability during the winter months. Other shrubs and grasses will be added to the landscaping plan in this area as well. Bill Ruppert, local horticulturalist and owner of Ruppert Gardens and Chicken Ranch, was very supportive of the tree removal. “The highly invasive nature of the Callery pear continues to become extremely prevalent among the landscapes of the Gateway region and beyond,” said Ruppert. “While Kirkwood has been fortunate to be less impacted, the invasion of Callery pears is beginning to appear along our community’s neighboring interstate highway corridors. The Kirkwood Park’s Department leadership and the Kirkwood Park Board have made a very responsible decision to eliminate the failing ornamental pear trees along Adams Avenue.” Some communities in the region have begun to ban the Callery pear trees in new commercial developments because of their invasive and destructive qualities. For more information about the nature of invasive tree species, or about the Adams Avenue removal, please contact Mr. Ruppert at 314-966- 0253, or the City’s horticulturalist Peter Laufersweiler at 984-6981. ###
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 20:36:38 +0000
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