Kentucky Offered Native Trees For Bradford Pear Removal

The University of Kentucky Extension is replacing invasive Callery pear trees with free native alternatives.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Botany

Kentucky Offered Native Trees For Bradford Pear Removal

Live Poll

Would you remove an invasive tree from your property to receive a free native replacement?

The University of Kentucky Extension has launched a program providing free native trees to residents who remove invasive Bradford pear trees from their property. Participants can secure their replacement tree by providing photographic proof of the felled invasive specimen.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to curb the rapid spread of the invasive Callery pear tree, which outcompetes native species and is structurally prone to splitting during storms. By incentivizing removal, the program protects local farmland and natural areas from the trees' invasive proliferation.

The program utilizes public submission of photos showing cut-down Bradford pear trees as verification for receiving a native sapling. Participants are not restricted to their home county and may attend any event held across the state.

The players

University of Kentucky Extension

This organization provides research-based information and educational programs to the residents of the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Division of Forestry

This state agency manages and protects forest resources and provides the grant funding for the Bradford Pear Bounty program.

The details

Bradford pear trees were once marketed as sterile, but they frequently cross-pollinate and spread via birds that consume their fruit. They grow faster than native species and often cause damage to surrounding trees through intense shade competition.

October 14, 2026: McCracken County bounty event.
October 15-16, 2026: Estill County bounty event.
October 26, 2026: Scott County bounty event.
November 10, 2026: Clark County bounty event.

Deeper Dive

This effort follows the specific strategy established by the Kentucky Division of Forestry to manage invasive species through community engagement. It marks a departure from traditional landscape maintenance by actively replacing established ornamental trees that have become ecological hazards.

Residents can improve their property safety by replacing brittle Bradford pear trees that are prone to splitting during ice and wind events. This initiative provides a cost-effective way to transition to more resilient native shade trees.

The takeaway

Replacing invasive ornamental trees helps restore the ecological balance of local landscapes by reducing competition for native species. Property owners should assess their landscaping for Callery pear trees, which are identifiable by their early spring blooms and susceptibility to storm damage.