Beautify Your Garden With A Flowering Pear Tree

A flowering pear or ornamental tree is a beautiful sight. In the spring, these trees produce dense masses of white flowers that turn red during the fall.

Flowering pear trees are popular as decorative trees on streets and in backyards as they attract birds in abundance. They are very easy to maintain and resistant to pollution and drought.

There are many varieties of flowering pear trees, including the Bradford Pear, Cleveland Select Pear, Redspire Pear and Silver Frost Pear.

Step 1 - Choose the Planting Spot

Flowering pear trees require bright sunlight for optimum growth. These trees grow better in slightly acidic soils. Older trees can break apart in high winds, so you must choose a spot that is a safe distance from your home.

Step 2 - Prepare the Soil

Use a spade to dig out a hole in the soil. The hole must be about double the width of the root ball and a little deeper than it too. Use a garden fork to clear the hole of any twigs or weeds. Press the bottom of the hole firmly with your foot so the plant will not sink deeper when it is watered. Mix the dug-out soil with peat and compost.

Step 3 - Plant the Flowering Pear Tree

Take care not to plant the tree too deep as it will cause later problems with growth.

Remove the plant from the container, shake out any excess soil and expose the roots. When placing the root in the hole, make sure that the root flare, or the base of the trunk, is above ground.

Fill the hole with the soil to about 80 percent of its height. Water the tree, and then fill in the rest of the soil. Top the soil with a few inches of mulch. This will help deter the growth of weeds.

Step 4 - Prune the Tree

You must prune your flowering pear tree to help maintain its shape and to encourage flowering every season. To avoid removing buds, it is important to prune the tree in the spring, before the buds bloom. When you prune, remove dead wood as well as branches that are crossing over each other, as they can damage the bark and cause infection. Prune branches that are too close to the trunk of the tree because they shut in moisture, resulting in decay.

Never water the flowering pear tree more than required, as they do not take well to excess moisture.

Always use clean and sharp gardening tools when pruning. Never remove the top portion of a tree to reduce its height. This will damage its growth and invite insects and pests. You can control the tree growth by reducing the size of branches without completely removing them. Always prune small portions of the tree at a time.