Why KY Homeowners Should Never Plant This Awful Tree

We used to have a neighbor who had marigolds in her garden, but I don't know why. Oh well, I guess I do know ONE reason; they're beautiful flowers.

Get That Nasty Bradford Pear Outta Here

There are, however, LOTS of beautiful flowers that don't smell like old socks in a musty basement. She could have planted those. Regardless, she was a nice lady and none of us ever made mention of her smelly blooms. But beauty doesn't always tame the odiferous beast. While planting marigolds raises no red flags, there's a TREE that does. In fact, it raises a STINK, and a big one, too. Arborists and scientists have no problem with your marigolds, but they'd prefer you avoid planting these:

They really are gorgeous, aren't they? Too bad that's the only good thing we can say about Bradford pear trees. I think they smell like feet; others think they smell like fish. Still others might weigh in with something else that makes our noses curl.

Why We're Strongly Discouraged from Planting Bradford Pears

But the stench isn't the worst part. The worst part is that this invasive species' seeds are easily spread via birds and animals, leading to an unwanted and disruptive proliferation of "bullies" that outcompete native species and jack up ecosystems.

But hey, there are plenty of other trees you can plant and not have to sacrifice spring beauty, and this team of horticulturists have some excellent suggestions:

I vote for fruit trees.

In fact, why not plant just regular old PEAR trees, the ones with actual fruit on them. Partridges wouldn't have a problem with THOSE. I mean, you know, it's in the song.