Removal Information
Background image source: Ryan Armbrust, Kansas Forest Service, Bugwood.orgControl Methods:
Prevention (Most important!) - The first priority to limit the spread is to stop the use of Callery pear or any of the cultivars in ornamental landscape plantings and remove it from any existing intentional plantings.
Manual (Dig it up) - Seedlings can be pulled when soil is moist, however, Callery pear roots are long and very strong and are difficult to remove. All portions of the root must be removed for effective control. Unless completely uprooted, herbicides will be needed. Since Callery pear is a vigorous resprouter, mowing is not an effective control method. Bag and dispose of fruit as solid waste or burn.
Image source: Alabama ExtensionChemical – Medium to large trees should be cut down and stumps treated with a high concentration, low volume systemic glyphosate or triclopyr-based herbicide. (Common trade names for glyphosate are RoundUp, Rodeo, Kleenup, Durango, and many others; common trade names for triclopyr are Access, Crossbow, Garlon, Redeem, Remedy and others.) If having a tree service remove the tree, treat the stump prior to grinding. This means the service provider will need to treat one day and return a week or two later to grind the stump. Chemically treating the stump will kill any lateral stems that may be left after stump grinding. These lateral stems may resprout if left untreated. Resprouting will still occur without treatment, even if the stump is removed.
If cutting down is not feasible, medium to large trees can also be killed via girdling and left standing, making sure to chemically treat cuts. Any cutting or girdling of trees without chemical treatment will cause them to resprout heavily. It is important to avoid cut surface treatments in early spring when sap is flowing during flowering and leaf out. The best times of year to cut and treat the Callery Pear is the late summer into fall, but summer and late winter are also an acceptable time to cut and treat.
Image source: Tom PotterfieldBasal Bark Treatment (not recommended in neighborhoods or near buildings) - Trees less than 6 inches in diameter at the base can be killed with an oil-based basal bark treatment (BBT). Due to risk of injury and property damage from falling limbs or snags, any treatments that leave medium to large dead trees standing should be avoided in areas near structures, along roadways, or in locations that are frequented by people, pets, and livestock. Newly established trees and resprouts can be sprayed with a foliar herbicide such as triclopyr.
Callery pear are prolific seed producers, with saplings producing fruits as early as three years of age, such that continued control will likely be required.
Image source: Alabama ExtensionManual removal with NO herbicide treatment - Trees can be removed without the use of chemical herbicides, but you must remain diligent over the next few years to immediately remove re-sprouts.
Re-sprouts can grow from anywhere in the root system, so frequently analyze the area where the tree was and either dig up or cut as close to the ground as possible.
Keep in mind that Callery pear trees can produce fruit as early as three years of age, making new seedlings and re-sprouts even more plausible.
This is not a recommended removal method, but for those wishing to use an organic method when the tree is too big to dig up, it is an option.
Image source: GoldBio