Mount Vernon Shade Tree Commission approves sequoia purchase, outlines pear-removal and large planting plans

At its meeting, the Mount Vernon Shade Tree Commission approved the purchase of containerized giant sequoia starts and discussed a city-contracted program to remove invasive Callery (Bradford) pear trees while expanding tree plantings across the city.

Commission members said the city has contracted to remove 80 Callery pear trees from the public right of way this year and is exploring a voucher program and partner funding to help homeowners replace pear trees on private property. Staff and commissioners described the pears as an invasive, widely spreading species poorly suited to the local ecosystem and said removal requires cutting, chemical treatment of roots and stump grinding.

The commission also reviewed multiple planting programs that will add several hundred trees this year. Commissioners and staff said 426 trees had been encumbered for the 2024 planting cycle and that the commission expects to plant roughly the same scale (discussants cited totals in the mid‑400s), while the city has removed about 40 trees so far this year. The commission described separate funding streams for removals, maintenance and plantings and said more planting money is…