Spotted Lanternfly: A Growing Concern

By Casey McCarty
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6735A
May 21, 2026

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Since October 2021, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has maintained a quarantine to slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that has become a growing concern throughout Central Ohio. First discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, the pest has continued spreading into nearby states, including Ohio, where it threatens agriculture, forests, vineyards, gardens, and residential neighborhoods by feeding on the sap of trees and plants. The quarantine restricts the movement of materials that may carry the insect, while officials encourage residents to inspect outdoor items, report sightings, and help prevent further spread.

An individual spotted lanternfly

Although the spotted lanternfly is known for its appearance with gray, black-spotted wings and bright red underwings, it can cause serious damage by feeding on the sap of trees and plants. This feeding weakens plants and leaves behind a sticky substance called honeydew, which leads to black sooty mold growth on leaves, patios, vehicles, and all outdoor surfaces. Areas surrounding Columbus are especially vulnerable because the insect spreads easily by laying egg masses on vehicles, trains, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture, and other surfaces that can be transported from place to place.

SLF egg mass

While the invasive tree-of-heaven is considered one of its favorite host plants, researchers still do not fully know all the plants the lanternfly may use. Spotted lanternflies have been found on flowers, ornamental plants, shrubs, fruit trees, grapevines, and even vegetable gardens. This wide range of possible hosts makes the insect especially concerning for homeowners, gardeners, and farmers in Central Ohio. Ohio’s grape industry could be especially vulnerable, as heavy spotted lanternfly infestations have the potential to severely weaken grapevines, reduce fruit production, and even kill vines over time.

If populations continue spreading across the state, vineyards and wineries throughout Ohio could face significant economic and agricultural losses. To help control infestations, pest-management professionals often use systemic treatments such as Safari Insecticide, which allows the insecticide to move through the plant as lanternflies feed. Spray treatments including neem oil and products containing Imidacloprid are also commonly used to reduce populations. Russell Tree Experts can also help diagnose trees if you have any concerns and provide both systemic and spray treatment options to help manage infestations and protect tree health.

Homeowners can help slow the spread by checking vehicles and outdoor equipment for egg masses, removing tree-of-heaven plants, and reporting sightings to local ODNR or ODA. Early detection and public awareness will be important in protecting Central Ohio’s environment, landscapes, and agricultural industries from this invasive pest. Stomp them if you see them!

For a free tree work quote by one of our ISA Certified Arborists®, visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote or give us a call at (614) 895-7000!

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Emerald Ash Borer: Where We Stand Today

By Casey McCarty
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6735A
May 14, 2026

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Growing up, ash trees dominated the woods surrounding my family’s property. They were among my favorite trees to climb, and the time I spent beneath their canopy helped inspire my passion for arboriculture. Over the years, however, watching those same trees decline because of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) transformed the issue from a distant ecological concern into something deeply personal.

Our team member Steve treating an ash tree with a trunk injection of emamectin benzoate

The EAB is not simply a problem of the past or one limited to older generations. The invasive insect continues to spread throughout the region with no signs of disappearing anytime soon. Since its arrival in North America, emerald ash borer has cost communities millions of dollars in tree removal efforts, replanting programs, research initiatives, and chemical treatments aimed at preserving ash populations for future generations. Native species such as white ash, green ash, and blue ash have been devastated, becoming increasingly rare across much of their natural range.

A close-up of emerald ash borer

Despite the widespread destruction, there is still reason for optimism. Through responsible forestry practices, continued treatment efforts, and selective breeding programs, scientists and arborists hope native ash populations may eventually develop resistance to the insect over time. Preserving surviving ash trees and maintaining genetic diversity will be critical if future generations are to continue experiencing these iconic trees in forests, parks, and neighborhoods.

Researchers believe the EAB first arrived in North America in 2002 through infested wooden shipping materials transported overseas in cargo containers. From there, the insect spread rapidly by hitching rides on trains, semi-trucks, and transported firewood throughout the eastern United States. Today, its range extends far beyond its original point of introduction, with recent detections even occurring in Colorado.

Our team member Steve treating an ash tree with a trunk injection of emamectin benzoate

One reason the infestation became so severe is the heavy reliance many communities placed on ash trees as street trees. Across Ohio and much of the Midwest, ash trees were favored because of their hardiness, tolerance of urban conditions, and ability to thrive in compacted soils and extreme roadside heat. Cities often planted them extensively because their uniform appearance created a sense of symmetry and beauty along streets and neighborhoods.

However, the widespread planting of a single species also created significant vulnerability. When an invasive pest such as the emerald ash borer arrives, entire streets lined with the same type of tree can be lost within only a few years. Mature urban canopies disappear, and natural forests containing large concentrations of ash can be severely damaged. The EAB outbreak serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of biodiversity, both in urban landscapes and within native ecosystems.

Systemic soil drench of imidacloprid

Emerald ash borer infestations can be effectively managed with treatment options that help protect ash trees from damage. One common method is a direct trunk injection of emamectin benzoate, which is typically applied in mid-to-late spring, and provides protection for 2 to 3 years. Another option is a systemic soil drench using imidacloprid, which is usually applied in the spring or fall and must be repeated annually to remain effective. Russell Tree Experts provides both of these services for trees with issues regarding EAB. For a free tree work quote by one of our ISA Certified Arborists®, visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote or call us at (614) 895-7000!

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A Sticky Situation: European Fruit Lecanium Scale

By Krista Harris
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6699A
May 7, 2026

European fruit lecanium scale feeding has begun!

In this photo, the reddish dots are young lecanium nymphs, while the white dots are common table salt (to show scale)

The tiny nymphs that overwintered on some of our landscape trees are actively sucking up delicious phloem with their little straws and releasing their sticky waste. They are deceptively camouflaged and immobile on twigs, but give themselves away, as everything beneath them is eventually covered in sugary honeydew (insect droppings).

The feeding is not only an annoyance to the tree's caretakers, but the tree itself is now struggling to survive as the scale parasites steal the tree's precious nutrients, causing branch dieback, reduced tree growth, and overall health.

1st instar nymphs feeding on the undersides of leaves after hatching and leaving the mother's shell

Despite the common name of this insect, it evolved in North America. It is polyphagous (feeds on a wide variety) and so will make its home in many species of deciduous trees, both native and non-native. Common hosts that I tend to find these little suckers on in central Ohio are crabapple, pear, cherry, serviceberry, and hawthorn. Though this somewhat legitimizes its common name as a fruit scale, I also find it commonly on Fine Line Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula 'Ron Williams'), maples, and, most recently, elms. However, it has been discovered by others on linden, birch, oak, hornbeam, willow, redbud, honeylocust, black walnut, and many other trees.

This insect's latin name (Parthenolecanium corni) reveals why it it has a quick, tactical advantage over our trees. The females can produce offspring without males parthenogenically (asexually, without fertilization). I, myself, have never witnessed the gnat-like adult male scale in 10 years of searching. If present at all, they are fleeting and unnecessary for the proliferation of this species.

Honeydew (insect droppings) left behind by lecanium scale

If you are experiencing sticky raindrops and want to inspect your trees for these hungry ladies, look for 1/8 to 1/4 inch brownish turtle shell-like lumps on the twigs. Each tiny mother shell harbors over one thousand eggs. The female will eventually perish in the creation of her offspring, and the first young nymphs, smaller than grains of table salt, will begin to hatch sometime in June. These little crawlers emerge from their mother's protective shell and travel a few feet to the nearest leaves, a huge distance for these newborns, equivalent to a third of a mile for humans comparatively, and settle on the undersides of the leaves to feed for the summer. Alternatively, some lucky nymphs hitch a ride on local wildlife, like the feet of squirrels or feathers of birds, to land on neighboring trees.

Ladybug larvae and parasitic wasp species typically keep populations managable and unnoticeable on healthy, unstressed trees, but in the modern environment of monoculture, poor soil and incorrect planting this insect can quickly run rampant.

Lecanium scale © Russell Tree Experts

Lecanium scale © Russell Tree Experts

The crawler stage is the most vulnerable for this insect as no waxy coating or hard mother shell protects them from insecticides.

If lecanium scale do make their way into your landscape, two well timed topical insecticide sprays on the crawler stage can help reduce and keep the population at a threshold that damage to the tree is minimal. On very small trees, adults can be removed and destroyed by hand before the eggs hatch. Russell Tree Experts can help you diagnose the infestation of this pest, treat for these little freeloaders and give you helpful advice on improving your tree's overall conditions to prevent future infestation and sticky situations. For a free tree work quote by one of our ISA Certified Arborists®, visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote or call us at (614) 895-7000! Happy spring everyone!

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Why Leaves Turn Yellow (and how to fix it!)

By Alex Miller
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-7168A
April 30, 2026

Nutrient deficiencies, such as those involving iron and manganese, are a serious issue for landscape trees. Left unaddressed, they can slow growth, weaken overall vigor, and eventually lead to decline or death. One of the earliest and most recognizable warning signs is chlorosis, a condition where leaves lose their rich green color and instead begin to progressively appear lime green, then yellowish green, and lastly a pale yellow as the tree begins to lose branches.  At first glance, chlorotic foliage might seem like a minor cosmetic issue, but it’s actually a signal that the tree is struggling to produce enough chlorophyll. Without sufficient chlorophyll, the tree can’t efficiently photosynthesize, which limits energy production and affects nearly every aspect of its health.

© Russell Tree Experts

© Russell Tree Experts

When trees show signs of iron or manganese deficiency, it’s easy to assume the soil simply lacks those nutrients. In reality, that’s often not the case. In central Ohio as is the case in many other soils, we often see that we contain perfectly adequate levels of these elements. The problem is bioavailability. Soil pH plays a major role in whether a tree can absorb nutrients. On the pH scale, 7 is neutral, lower values are acidic, and higher values are alkaline. In alkaline soils, iron and manganese become chemically bound in forms that roots cannot easily take up. Even though the nutrients are technically present, they’re essentially locked away behind the soil pH.  This is particularly common in areas where the underlying geology contains limestone or similar materials, which naturally raise soil pH. Urban environments can make things worse, as materials like concrete or salt applied to the roads in winter that is subsequently plowed onto tree lawns can also contribute to increased alkalinity in the nearby soils over time. Certain species are more prone to these deficiencies in alkaline soils. In our region, red maple, eastern white pine, sweet gum, river birch, pin oak, and hemlock are just some of the most common trees to exhibit these symptoms. These species naturally prefer more acidic conditions, which makes them particularly sensitive when planted in higher pH soils.

Soil pH can affect the availability of a particular nutrient for a tree

When I’m first asked to observe the health of a nutrient-deficient tree, chlorosis typically shows up as yellowing between the veins of leaves, while the veins themselves may remain green. Or the leaves have already dropped prematurely in July, August, or September, leading to slowed growth, or the tree may present with a thin canopy and other stressed signs. While nutrient deficiency is a common cause, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Similar symptoms can result from other stressors, such as intense summer drought (as we’ve recently experienced the past two years), compacted soil, poor drainage, root damage, or pest and disease issues. Sometimes there can even be a cascading effect where the tree no longer has the nutrients it needs to fight off various pests, leading to more damage and a cycle of negative reinforcement. The important thing to remember is that proper diagnosis of the underlying issue, or in some cases issues, is key before beginning any treatment plan.

©Russell Tree Experts

Before taking corrective action, it’s wise to verify what’s actually going on. Soil testing can provide helpful baseline information, but it doesn’t always tell the full story of what the tree is absorbing. That’s where tissue sampling comes in. By collecting and analyzing leaf samples during specific times of the growing season (which varies by species), we can determine exactly which nutrients are deficient within the tree itself. Based on the samples we’ve conducted, manganese deficiency is the most commonly identified issue, though iron deficiencies do occur as well.

Once a deficiency has been confirmed, treatment can be both targeted and effective. A common approach begins with a general fertilization program that includes the deficient nutrient, for example, manganese, applied in a form the tree can readily absorb, mixed with a wide array of nutrients that encourage trees to be healthy and vigorous.  About 30 days later, a follow-up application is typically recommended in the form of a basal drench. This involves applying a higher concentration of the needed nutrient directly around the base of the tree, allowing it to be taken up more efficiently through the root system.  In addition to direct nutrient applications, long-term management may include efforts to gradually lower soil pH. Materials such as elemental sulfur can help make nutrients more available over time, though we’ve had mixed results that are certainly not immediate and require ongoing management. It appears far easier to inadvertently raise soil pH than strenuous efforts have been to lower it back down.

An example of a basal drench
©Russell Tree Experts

The best way to avoid nutrient deficiencies is to match the right tree to the right site. Selecting species that are well adapted to local soil conditions can prevent many of these issues before they even begin. When planting more sensitive species, it’s important to be proactive with monitoring and care. Nutrient deficiencies may not always be immediately visible, but they can have lasting impacts if ignored. With proper diagnosis, targeted treatment, and a thoughtful long-term approach, trees experiencing chlorosis can recover and continue to thrive in our landscape. For a free tree work quote by one of our ISA Certified Arborists®, visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote or call us at (614) 895-7000!

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Oh, Dear! No Deer! Tips for Preventing Deer Damage

By Mike Wilson
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6806A
April 16, 2026

If you garden in central Ohio, you already know—you’re not the only one enjoying your landscape. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and a whole cast of furry visitors are right there with you, sampling the menu you’ve worked so hard to grow.

©Russell Tree Experts

As beautiful and iconic as deer are, their growing population in the Midwest has made them one of the biggest challenges for gardeners, homeowners, and anyone trying to establish trees or shrubs. As neighborhoods continue to expand into natural habitats, deer have adapted right along with us—and unfortunately, that often means treating our yards like an all-you-can-eat buffet. And they’re not picky diners.

A single deer can eat 6–7 pounds of plant material a day and reach up to about 6 feet high. That means your hostas, roses, hydrangeas, arborvitae, and tender young greens are all fair game. Repeated browsing doesn’t just make plants look ragged—it can prevent flowering, distort growth, and even kill plants over time. And if food is scarce? Deer will try just about anything.

An example of deer browsing
©Russell Tree Experts

So What Can You Do? One of the most common approaches is using repellents. These products work in a few different ways—some smell like predators (triggering a “better stay away” instinct), while others taste bad or even cause mild irritation to discourage repeat snacking. Ingredients like capsaicin (the heat in peppers), allyl isothiocyanate (found in mustard), or ammonia can make plants much less appealing.

The Catch? Repellents only work if you stay consistent. Rain, new growth, and time all reduce their effectiveness, so regular reapplication is key. If keeping up with that sounds like a chore, some homeowners opt for professional services. Currently, Russell Tree Experts does not offer any deer repellent services, we just are fans of tree preservation. One company that we really like is Deerly Departed, a local arborist-led company that offers scheduled applications using natural, edible and pet-safe products, so you don’t have to remember when you last sprayed. Deerly Departed can also help you figure out a plant pallet to discourage browsing.

Deer don’t just eat plants—they can also damage trees in another frustrating way. In the fall, male deer (bucks) rub their antlers against tree trunks to mark territory. This “buck rub” can strip bark in long vertical sections, especially on young trees about 1–4 inches in diameter. Once a tree is marked, deer may come back year after year.

If the damage is severe—especially if it goes all the way around the trunk—it can interrupt the flow of water and nutrients, which may lead to decline or even death. In less severe cases, trees can recover over time, especially with a little help: consistent watering during dry spells, proper mulching, and seasonal fertilization can all support compartmentalization (healing).

If repellents aren’t your thing, physical protection is another solid option. While fencing can help, deer are impressive jumpers (clearing up to 8 feet when motivated), so not all fences are foolproof. Some gardeners try creative deterrents like fishing line or string lights, with mixed results.

©Russell Tree Experts

©Russell Tree Experts

©Russell Tree Experts

Often, the simplest solution is the most effective: protect each plant individually. Wrapping young tree trunks (ideally up to about 6 feet high) with sturdy wire mesh or tree guards can prevent buck rub damage. It’s affordable, discreet, and works well until trees mature past the stage deer find tempting. Of course, local HOA or community rules may influence what you can and can’t do in your yard. But whether you’re trying to prevent damage or recover from it, you’re not alone. Gardening in deer country just comes with a few extra challenges.

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The 40 Weeks of Flowers Challenge

By Mitch Lippencott
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6715A
April 9th, 2026

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It was February 2020.

My hair was thicker, and without a single gray.

My joints felt lubricated and rarely hurt.

After years of working at a garden center and spending most of my paychecks on plants there, I was feeling proud of my landscape. By my estimation, something was flowering at my house from Easter all the way through Thanksgiving, sometimes even longer.

This type of plant diversity doesn’t come easily, and it’s not just for good looks – it feeds the pollinators and predators that keep a garden thriving without chemicals.

I concocted the “40 Weeks of Flowers Challenge” and invited my plant nerd friends and colleagues to attempt it with me as spring approached.

The rules were simple – take a photo of a new plant flowering in your garden every week for as long as possible, hopefully 40 consecutive weeks. Trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, grasses, herbs, fruit, and veg would all count. Houseplants and annuals wouldn’t. No repeats, even if they’re a re-blooming variety. Flowers only – buds, berries, and seed pods wouldn’t count. Miss a week, you’re eliminated.

In the end, I only lasted 38 weeks.

Missing the magic 40 wasn’t disappointing, though. It forced me out to scan my gardens every week. It taught me to look differently at plants I’d had for years. I gained appreciation of what I had and noted what I still needed to get. Most of all, it was fun!

This year, I’m inviting my co-workers and the entire Russell Tree Experts family to participate in a similar challenge. Still no annuals or potted plants. Still no repeats. This time around, the actual number of weeks won’t matter – we’ll simply go as long as we can with no set goal. Flowers are still strongly preferred, but if your tree has fall foliage that needs to be shown off, we’re all for it.  

If you’d like to participate, upload your photos to this Facebook post along with a description of the plant, if you know it. We’ll post some of our favorites each week. 

I spotted my first flower this year on Monday, March 2.

Witch hazel (pictured above) is native to large swathes of North America. It’s typically found in densely forested areas but tolerates both sunny and shady locations and wet and dry soils. Common woodland varieties grow to 10-20 feet tall and wide, with smaller cultivars widely available. The most striking feature of witch hazel is its unique bloom time – It often flowers in snow!

In the weeks since, I’ve photographed helleborus (week of March 8), crocus (March 15), silver maple (3/20), and hyacinth (3/29).

What’ll you have next week?

The Challenge

The Invasive & Illegal Callery Pear

By Enrique Arayata
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-7252A
March 26, 2026

Spring is right around the corner! How do I know? Well, besides the obvious with the calendar dates progressing and the warmer temperatures in the forecast, I can see the early spring color of the callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana). This tree is one of the first flowering trees in Ohio’s spring season and is an indicator that we are at the tail end of winter.

2 callery pear trees (Pyrus calleryana)
©Russell Tree Experts

Something that might not be so obvious is that the callery pear is an invasive species that is illegal in Ohio! The punishment for owning a callery pear tree is jail time. Okay, I’m kidding about jail, but not about it being illegal. As of 2023, it is no longer legal to sell or plant callery pear trees in Ohio. (Read more here) This goes for all cultivated varieties of callery pear trees such as autumn blaze, Cleveland select, and the common bradford pear. They are illegal because of their harm to Ohio’s native ecosystem.

What is An Invasive Species?

An invasive species is a species planted outside of its native habitat that will cause environmental or economic harm. Another example of an invasive species in Ohio is amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). This is different from an exotic tree, which is a tree planted in a non-native site that is not known to cause environmental or economic harm. An example of an exotic tree in Ohio is Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). 

How Are Callery Pear Trees Invasive? (And Why They Stink)

Non-Native: They are natively found in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Vietnam. They were imported to Ohio in the 1900s.

Rapid Growth: Callery pear trees are above average in their ability to grow quickly, flower, produce fruit, and spread. 

Spreads Easily: Volunteer callery pear trees can spread and pop up rapidly. This is due to their rapid growth, due to their ability to produce fruit in as few as 3 years, and due to birds eating the fruit and spreading seeds to new planting sites via droppings.

Planted callery pear trees on the left. Volunteer callery pear trees on the right
©Russell Tree Experts

Can Grow “Anywhere”: Maybe not literally anywhere, but callery pear can tolerate a wide range of planting sites with varying soil types, soil pH, light levels, moisture levels, and more. They can grow in native Ohio soil and in urban, construction-grade soil.

©Russell Tree Experts

Outcompetes Native Species: Combining all the previous points together, callery pear trees often outcompete native species for space, water, sunlight, and nutrients. If left unchecked, this can result in a reduced population of native Ohio species and lean closer towards the direction of a monoculture. A monoculture of any tree species is risky and could be detrimental if a new pest or disease were to come and wipe them out, such as Dutch elm disease or chestnut blight.

Foul Odor: The general public agrees that callery pear trees stink. The smell is unpleasant and is often compared to vomit or rotting fish.

This callery pear tree failed during a strong wind event
©Russell Tree Experts

Prone to Storm Damage: Callery pear trees are more susceptible to limb breakage during intense storms due to their poor branching habits like narrow crotch unions and due to their brittle wood. As of the time of writing this, central Ohio has had multiple storm events over the past two weeks. As a result, we have had multiple emergency storm jobs, a few of which were removing callery pear trees that had multiple limbs break off and fail.

Inedible Fruit: Have you ever purchased callery pear fruit at your local grocery store? Me neither. Their fruit is inedible and considered toxic in high quantities due to the release of cyanide when crushed or chewed.

©Russell Tree Experts

Poor Lumber: As mentioned earlier, callery pear wood is brittle. Their trunks also don’t get as thick in diameter compared to other trees such as oaks, maples, or walnuts. Both of these result in callery pear being far from the first option in the lumber or paper industry.

Why Was Callery Pear Planted in the First Place?

The white flowers of a callery pear tree
©Russell Tree Experts

It sounds like callery pear trees stink (because they do, literally), so why was it imported from Asia in the first place? Well, they can tolerate being planted in poor soil conditions like urban, construction-grade backfill, they have showy white flowers in early spring, and they are resistant to fire blight, a deadly disease for trees in the rosaceae family such as apple and pear trees. While these three benefits may sound nice, the overall environmental and economic impact for the callery pear tree is a net negative in Ohio, and there are many other trees that can check those three boxes.

What Can I Plant Instead?

If you’re looking for a tree similar to callery pear, there are many alternatives such as royal white eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis f. alba ‘Royal White’), sugar tyme crabapple (Malus x Sutyzam), common serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), and ivory silk Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’), just to name a few! All of these trees have showy white flowers, are non-invasive, and will grow to somewhere in the ballpark of 15 to 30 feet tall and wide, similar to the callery pear.

What Should I Do if I Have a Callery Pear Tree in My Yard?

I don’t want to sound dramatic, but if you have a callery pear tree on your property, I would highly consider removing it. If it is close to your house or something of value, definitely consider removing it to minimize the risk of property damage. If it is in the middle of nowhere and won’t hit anything if it were to get damaged and fall, it’s not the end of the world, but I would still consider removing it since birds will feed on the fruit and spread the seeds elsewhere. 

If you do plan on removing your callery pear tree, I would look around and see if there’s a program in your local area that will compensate you for the tree removal, whether that’s helping cover the cost of the removal itself or helping cover the cost of a new tree. In 2024, Pollinator Pathway of Licking County distributed free trees and garden center vouchers for residents who removed a callery pear tree from their yard. In 2025, the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District offered a $100 to $500 reimbursement towards a new tree if you removed an invasive species such as callery pear, tree of heaven, Japanese barberry, and more, for residents of Columbus, Grandview, Grove City, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, or Westerville. A similar program could likely emerge this spring and summer in your area!

Regarding the tree removal itself, Russell Tree Experts has removed countless numbers of callery pear trees (and other invasive species). Invasive tree removal is in our wheelhouse and is one of our favorite types of tree work. For a free tree work quote from one of our ISA Certified Arborists®, visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote or call us at (614) 895-7000!

So when you see these white flowering trees terrorizing central Ohio here in the next week or two, just know that despite their subjectively beautiful aesthetics, they are a legally invasive species that needs to be kept in control and evicted from Ohio.

References:

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/Planting-Callery-Pear

https://www.communitybackyards.org/invasive-trade-in-program

https://www.lickingpollinatorpathway.org/bounty

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