there's not much specific info on this tree for it to be so common. i've never been able to find anything about btu, or weight, can anyone fill me in on those? any other specific information is welcome... such as specifically what it compares to with its burning characteristics, seasoning time etc. i've never burned it before, but my dad has one that i'm going to cut down because if has a vertical split going down the trunk from the main crotch. it's pretty large for a bradford pear, i'd say about 60 feet. very surprised it has never come down with as many large crotches as it has. with how much it's branched, i can't give an accurate size of the load it will be, but the trunk and large parts of the main branches look like they'll give at least a cord. i've always imagined it to be similar to tulip, but the branch i've taken so far is noticeably heavier when split. the grain structure is awful, not quite as bad as sweet gum, but man it's easy to split, even more so than tulip or ash... they come out ugly though, not even close to straight. thanks.
Bradford pears are fine for firewood. Almost all of them die exactly the same death. they grow till they split in half. landscapers like to use them because they grow very fast, have great blooms but produce no fruit. Btu wise they are like other fruit trees I believe, like apple. might want to add some extra time for seasoning it out. C/S/S now and burn in two years maybe.
i'm planning on burning it next winter, maybe the second shoulder. with my weather and conditions i've been getting black and pin oak down to close to 20% in about a year and a half's time. if the bradford pear isn't ready by that time, no big deal, i have plenty of tulip and sweet gum for next year's shoulders both with over a year in so far.
I have never burned or cut Bradford pears but I think the tree originated in china which may be why it is hard to find btu info.
I had one go down in a storm this year. It splits weird like the wood has no grain. It's very heavy wood for the size. It seems to dry very fast - already in the mid 20's on splits from July. I haven't burned any yet but people that have said it burns hot and pretty fast. I had a very big one in my yard that we'll be burning next winter so I'll have more info then.
i've always wondered if the same applied to these non-fruit bearing ornamental ones. they seem a lot more common (around here) and seem to be weaker than the fruit bearing pears.
We have an abundance of them here in Atlanta, mostly for the speed of growth as stated earlier..but never burned any. Many lose branches or split in half during storms, and they rarely live longer than 20 years according to the local garden radio show.
