How big of property and how many Bradfords are you talking about?

The question that you ask is something that I have been thinking about for my own place. My backyard is mostly circled with deciduous trees (including a couple Bradfords). I would love to replace some of them with evergreens to provide year round screening, but I hate the idea of cutting down a tree that provides 8 months of screening just to replace it with a tree that will provide 0 months of screening for several years.

I like the theory of planting a few evergreens that I can let get established before cutting down any of the deciduous trees but there seems to be some issues with that. First off, if I plant an evergreen that tolerates the shade and root competition of the existing trees, can I expect that tree to also survive the full sun conditions left when the existing trees are removed? Another problem is that I don't like the idea of existing trees that will be removed dictating where I plant the evergreens.

The "solution" that I am thinking about for my place is a staged approach. I will probably remove a cherry tree and a smaller maple tree and replace it with a grouping of evergreens (maybe hollies, maybe arborvitae, maybe something more interesting). In other cases where the deciduous trees will stay, I may squeeze in some evergreen shrubs or ornamental grasses.

In your case, maybe you could pitch a similar solution to your client. Propose to remove 10-20% of the Bradfords this year and replace them with a mixed grouping of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs (and maybe some grasses). Come back in a few years and replace another grouping of Bradfords.

- Brent

Hi Brent,
Thanks for the advice. You had a good point about the evergreens being suitable under the trees and probably not so much after the trees are gone. I think I will take your suggestions. There are about 100 bradfords total, so it will have to be done in stages, for budget purposes. We offer a two year guarantee on our plants, and I wouldnt feel comfortable providing that guarantee with the bradfords still standing. It is tough to remove so many nice trees, but I think it is the only solution if a solid evergreen screen is what you want. Thanks again

Anything that is native to forest, has to be shade tolerant when young. It's just the nature of the habitat. How large, or how quickly they are willing to grow before the canopy opens up, is more of a consideration. Since basically that is what you wanted to do - plant something, then after a few years, pretend you are a big wind storm or something and remove the competition.

Of course you are talking to somebody who used to regularly find holly seedlings underneath a Norway spruce.

It is tough to remove so many nice trees.

There is nothing "nice" about Bradford pears and I'd encourage their entire removal as soon as possible. Not only are the trees weak wooded and of poor structure, easily susceptible to damage from winds, ice and snowloads, they are prone to a number of disfiguring fungal problems and are rapidly becoming a major invasive threat throughout much of the East coast and areas of the southeast. Unfortunately, because of their vigorous habit, flower and fall color attributes and relatively narrow profile, they have been extensively planted in these areas - perhaps to excess (100 trees on a single property?!?) - and now the environment is paying the price.

If you need a fast growing evergreen screen, I'd consider something like Thuja 'Green Giant' that will fill the space rapidly and get those #%&*dang pears outta there!

Here is a link that might be useful: invasiveness of Bradford pears