Was I Duped?

[Victor Van Meter]

I purchased what were marked as Ayers Pear trees at a Wal Mart about 5 or so years ago. They have grown decently and have been fertilized once a year since planted. Oddly, one of the trees is producing these very tiny little "pears". I am assuming they won't get much larger since it is the beginning of September. Was I sold a Callery Pear and not Ayers? Thanks for the help.

 

[homerj]

The graft probably died

 

[KY wild]

Many possibilities but yes I think you have a different tree than you paid. A few years ago I was looking at trees at Lowes and it was obvious to me that several trees had the wrong tags, like a tree that was a dogwood that I could tell form its features labeled a peach tree, I asked the water worker and she said some public thinks it funny to switch tags, so who knows what happened to your tree.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

It's Walmart. bring it back.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

So, is this a Callary Pear then? Prob should cut it down if so.

 

[Catscratch]

I have a pic somewhere of a Lowes tree that was covered with different tags. Had to have been more than 30 of them.

My favorite apple tree is from The Wildlife Group. I ordered a crab of some sort and this one showed up labeled for what I ordered, but it grew into something very different. No clue what it actually is but it's a great tasting apple that only produces every other year. Wish I had 10 of them!

 

[Telemark]

So, is this a Callary Pear then? Prob should cut it down if so.

You can graft it.

 

[T-Max]

Same! I bought a pair of Bartlett pears about 5 years ago. They are growing great, but finally produced these this year. I almost had to tie my dad up to keep him from chopping it down. I’ll try to graft for the first time next spring.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BrushyPines]

So, is this a Callary Pear then? Prob should cut it down if so.

Thats what it looks like to me. I would graft it not cut it down!

 

[TonySoprano]

Was it a Walmart brand tree , or from Chestnut hill Outdoors ?. If it's from Chestnut hill it could possible be one of the last years they sold Dr Deer Pears or it's Replacement "Trophy Pear". They are both supposed to get around golf ball sized.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Was it a Walmart brand tree , or from Chestnut hill Outdoors ?. If it's from Chestnut hill it could possible be one of the last years they sold Dr Deer Pears or it's Replacement "Trophy Pear". They are both supposed to get around golf ball sized.

I did buy it from Wal Mart. The "pears" are still on the tree and are still about the size of pea or little larger. I have never grafted before, but will research it over the winter and give it a shot this spring.

 

[bigboreblr]

With mature trees its more called topworking. Cut off several main branches, then cleft graft 3 or4 pieces on each branch. Once the new branches take over in a year or two, topwork the remaining of just remove the branches. Other option is to leave a few branches as is too. I've done that to a few apples trees with good results so far.

Perhaps mow under the tree and maybe even add an exclusion cage and see if some pears remain there. Could collect some and put it by a tree camera in a more central deer area and see if they eat them.

Wondering how pears react to topworking. I know they react differently than apple trees to pruning. From what little I've done and seen, seems what you trim get pretty much stalled out, unlike apple trees which come back stronger. Got 3 and 2 don't like my pruning efforts. The 3rd one is planted this year, more or less leaving it alone... Just bartlet, kieffer, and olympic. Happy with apple trees by themselves here in zone 3 and 5 NY. Just wanted some different fruit for the wife, got saturn peaches too. At camp, all apples / crabs.

Since your considering topwrking, might be good to see the entire tree.