Saving a Storm-Damaged Bradford Pear with Borer Holes

Assessing Bradford Pear Damage: Woodpeckers vs. Borers

After a large limb tore a 4-inch-deep split to the ground, the owner applied pruning spray, installed support cables, and discovered ¼-inch holes encircling the trunk.

Diagnosing the Holes

• Straight, evenly spaced lines: Yellow-bellied sapsucker (woodpecker) feeding holes. Cosmetic only; no treatment needed.
• Random, scattered pattern: Wood-boring beetles (e.g., flatheaded borers). Indicates stress; spray trunk with labeled borer insecticide.

Critical Advice

1. Remove Pruning Paint: It seals in moisture and pathogens, slowing wound closure.
2. Accept Future Breakage: Bradford pears are structurally flawed; cables are temporary.
3. Plan Replacement: Select a stronger species when this tree fails.

Consult a local nursery for borer-specific insecticides if holes are random.