02/26/2025
WANTED: Your Bradford pear trees!
Columbia area property owners are invited to exchange up to five Bradford pear trees for an equal number (1:1 exchange) of FREE young, healthy, native replacement trees.
WHY?
Bradford pears are not native to the U.S. and have been widely planted in SC for years. While the blossoms are pretty, they have a pungent odor and the trees often break during storms. Even worse, Bradford pear trees directly contribute to one of the worst invasive plant species in the Southeast – the Callery pear. This program gives homeowners the option to remove Bradford pears and replace them with native trees. Doing so will help reduce the amount of seed that can grow into Callery pears and will help diversify the urban landscape.
WHEN?
Saturday, March 8, 2025
8am-11am
WHERE?
Pelican’s SnoBalls (parking lot)
2404 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201
HOW?
Visit https://www.clemson.edu/extension/bradford-pear/index.html
-Pre-registration is required. Once available, click the "Register" link on the right under your city.
-Take a photo of yourself with the cut tree (a selfie, if you will) and bring it to the exchange event.
-Replacement trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. If your preferred replacement tree is not available at the time of distribution, you will be provided with a healthy alternative. Specific tree species cannot be reserved ahead of the event.
*Any SC resident can participate and take part in the program, but only the property owner can register and get the trees. Property owners are responsible for tree removal.
LEARN MORE: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/bradford-pear/index.html