Bradford Pear Borers: Sawdust, Dying Leaves, and How to Save the Tree

Sawdust at the Base + Dying Canopy = Borer Infestation

Your 9-year-old Bradford pear shows classic borer signs: sawdust (frass) at the base and up the trunk, leaf dieback, and canopy thinning. Neem oil won't touch borers inside the wood.

Effective Treatment: Systemic Insecticide

• Spray the trunk and lower branches with Merit (imidacloprid) — it penetrates bark and kills feeding larvae.
• Available at nurseries; follow label for bark application.

Address the Root Cause: Tree Stress

Borers attack stressed trees. Your tree needs:

• Deep weekly watering: 1 inch per week (use a pan under sprinkler to measure).
• Proper mulching: 3 inches of organic mulch, not touching trunk.
• Avoid wounding trunk with mowers/string trimmers.

Prognosis

If caught early and stress relieved, Bradford pears can survive borers. But these trees are short-lived (15–25 years) and prone to splitting — consider replacement with a stronger species long-term.