Oak tree fallen branches - diseased or rotted?

[Russell Ball]

Hi

 

First time post here so apologies if in the wrong place.

 

I have attached photos of branches that fell from an oak tree onto a car causing considerable damage. The tree was inspected by a tree surgeon 3 months prior and no issues were reported.

 

The branches appear to be blackened inside and I was wondering if someone could tell me whether this is some kind of disease of rot that has caused the branches to break and fall?

 

If so, should this have been apparent at the time of the inspection?

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

Regards

 

Russell

[David Humphries]

Hello Russell, do you have any other information available like weather conditions.

 

Was the failure during a strong wind event ?

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Russell Ball]

Hi David

 

There were some relatively strong winds at the time. It happened at the end of September 2012 on the east coast of Scotland at Edinburgh.

 

The winds were strong but nothing like the hurricane gusts we had in December 2011 and January 2012 so I was thinking there may have been other factors.

[C.J]

Hi David

 

There were some relatively strong winds at the time. It happened at the end of September 2012 on the east coast of Scotland at Edinburgh.

 

The winds were strong but nothing like the hurricane gusts we had in December 2011 and January 2012 so I was thinking there may have been other factors.

 

Leaves still on the tree.

[David Humphries]

Personally I wouldn't be comfortable second guessing this situation (in terms of whether the cause of failure could/should have been noticed at the time of inspection) but, the 'black' discoloration (within the failed part(s)) is what I would expect to be associated with a non-occluded wound (old pruning or prior storm failure) where decay has ingressed into the heart wood regions.

 

Having the leaves still on during a strong wind event would act like a sail and increase the stress around the weak part of the branch.

 

I'd would imaging that those factors would combine to contribute in part to the failure.

 

 

 

 

.

[Amelanchier]

Russell,

 

Have you considered instructing an arb to give you a formal opinion? These kinds of things are best done first hand.

[Russell Ball]

Hi guys

 

Thanks for your replies.

 

There is a report from the tree surgeon that inspected the trees prior to the failure. He also inspected the fallen branches two days after the failure and stated there were no signs of rot or decay. It is the tree surgeon's opinion that wind was the only cause here.

 

I just thought the blackness within the broken branches would warrant further investigation.

 

Like you said Tony, it looks as though best to arrange for a second opinion.

 

Thanks

[wood cutter]

it does look a little rotten in there or something is not right for it to be discoloured.

 

as David has said it could be culminating factors such as wind, sail effect, pruning before hand?? but as its oak they do drop limbs but usually in hot weather?? good luck.

[born2trot]

In my opinion that wood hasnt rotted enough for failing under ' normal' circumstances . The storms in the east coast round about that time were extremely damaging , i did an oak very similar to the pictures which ripped apart much worse than the one shown because of included unions , not decay specifically .

[hazforester]

Hi All,

 

I have had a smilar event happen in the lakes last week.

 

The Oak tree shed a limb between 12.00pm and 01.00am.

 

There is no signs of visable fungi, howerver is surroned by tarmac.

 

We have had a couple of weeks of good weather, so thinking it could be sudden limb drop, but need more infomation before I put in the report.

 

So any other Information would be handy

 

Haz