Florence County, South Carolina – South Carolina is rolling out a unique program aimed at tackling the issue of invasive Bradford pear trees, which have troubled local ecosystems for years. At no cost, the Bradford Pear Bounty Program lets property owners trade troublesome Bradford pear trees for native species of value.
Although renowned for its exquisite flowers, the Bradford pear is not native to the United States and has grown to be an environmental annoyance across the Southeast. These trees are well-known for not only their bad smell and sensitivity to storm damage but also for helping the very invasive Callery pear spread. Through outcompeting native species and changing habitat, the Callery pear seriously threatens local flora.
The Bradford Pear Bounty Program is being launched throughout several South Carolina cities in order to address this problem. Property owners are urged to remove up to five Bradford pear trees from their grounds and replace them for an equivalent number of young, healthy native trees. This project aims to diversify the urban and suburban tree population with species that are more environmentally suitable and stop the spread of Callery pears by lowering the seed sources.
Pre-registration is required for program participation; this can be accomplished by visiting this link. The program states that the Bradford pear trees must be removed and only the property owner can register and engage in the exchange. Owners have to snap a picture with their removed tree and show it at the trade-off to record their involvement.
First-come, first-serve arrangement of the replacement trees guarantees early participants the best opportunity of acquiring their selected native species. Should particular trees run out, other kinds will be supplied to guarantee that each participant leaves with a replacement.
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Proper removal of the Bradford pears is essential. To safely and successfully remove these trees, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) advises engaging a licensed tree specialist. Stumps should be sprayed with a herbicide such as glyphosate or triclopyr following cutting to stop the tree from resprouting.
Events in Florence on March 1st, Columbia on March 8th, and Greenwood on March 15th are scheduled for the program for 2025. Every event seems to help locals make eco-friendly decisions that support the diversity and general health of South Carolina’s natural surroundings.
Through such programs, South Carolina citizens can directly help to reduce the ecological damage caused by invading species and encourage a better, more varied environment for next generations.
