trees

They are pretty for a few days but they stink and very weak structure.  Defiantly don't plant one!   

I have one & mine doesn't stink at all. I've never been around one that does smell bad.

That's funny because someone told me they smelled like semen or a dead fish.  I couldn't smell it either until I bought a house that had several along the back fence.  Some years are worse than others  Twice in two years we have had large limbs blow off.  The trees don't have a central branch and as a result they are weak.  The lifespan on these trees is about 25 years.  Any master gardener you speak to would advise you to avoid these trees. 

Always been told they are very weak trees, and it's not unusual to see them split or missing limbs, we have them all around here. The funny thing-in the tornado we had in '11 we lost trees, some pretty big ones, but not ONE limb off of any of the Bradford pears that I remember.

We never had a problem until last year.  It must have been straight line wind.  They guy that came to cut up the dead limbs explained the trees were a problem.  Within a few years we will have to cut them all down which will cost several thousand.

I've been told that Cleveland Pears are a better choice.

Like y'all said ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_calleryana

During the storm of 2011, I lost about 35 acres of old growth hickory and stands of 40+ year old red and white oak I saved from clear cutting.  The forest is regenerating in privet though we harvest acorns / nuts and "re-seed."  Been doing that ever since a mixture of black walnut, scaley bark hickory, and red and white oak.  Maybe my grandsons will see the benefits of our efforts when they are my age.

Not a big fan of the 'Bradford.'  Beauty is only bark deep.

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You must not "smell very good."