Snow Loading

[Mark T]

Out of pure curiosity... has anyone had any experience of snow loading leading to branch / tree failure in the recent dusting? If so, what species and what size pieces have been affected?

[David Humphries]

Not been at work over the last 24hrs, so don't know of anything recent.

 

But the dump down here in the South East back in October, trashed loads of branches, due to leaves still being on the Trees.

 

Mainly Oak, from what I recall.

 

 

 

 

.

[John Hancock]

We have a magnificent Cedrus libani (Ceder of Lebanon) here in Worcester. Every time it snows we’re up there with brooms dusting it down. Luckily today it’s the dry powdery stuff that brushes off easily, it’s the wet, heavy snow that’s the killer for these trees (and it’s a bugger to broom-off!)

[Graham]

We have a magnificent Cedrus libani (Ceder of Lebanon) here in Worcester. Every time it snows we’re up there with brooms dusting it down. Luckily today it’s the dry powdery stuff that brushes off easily, it’s the wet, heavy snow that’s the killer for these trees (and it’s a bugger to broom-off!)

 

Yes it's usually the early and late snow which tends to be wet and heavy. This is nice powdery stuff...no good for snowmen:001_smile:

[Marcus B-T]

There are a number of issues with this: one is the loading, ice storms have an even bigger effect with this. And then there is the freezing thawing effects. Once saw a huge branch come of an oak before my eyes as a result of freeze and thaw, the sound was like a bomb going off.

 

There is a beech site that we work on that has regluar (well as regular as they get in this country) ice storms and these cause weak branches to come off even without leaves.

 

Baiscally it isn't so much species as the angle of the branch, the strength of the branch and the weight applied; but of course some species are more likely to be susseptible to these conditions due to their form. Age will also be a factor.

[Marcus B-T]

A bit after the lord mayors show on this one but just assessing the effects of snow loading on a site with mixed population including large number of scots pine. Only the scots pine were significantly (statistically) affected. Degree of exposure a major factor, also branch angles and known defects with a significant interaction between them.

[gibbon]

We are currently working through a shed load of clearing up due to snow failure for the NT. They estimate 500 trees have been damaged on an estate near exeter. Everything from Rhodo's to Redwoods, most of the Cedars have had some damage.

 

We have not had that amount of snow down here for 20 years so the trees have not developed to cope with that type of loading.

[samarb]

This is what happened to an acient oak, as result have to drasticly lift the crown and reduce 15% to the rest of it.

[Stephen Blair]

This is what happened to an acient oak, as result have to drasticly lift the crown and reduce 15% to the rest of it.

 

good luck with that one mate, looks messy.

[David Humphries]

This is what happened to an acient oak, as result have to drasticly lift the crown and reduce 15% to the rest of it.

 

Whats the location & targets?

 

The fractures look fantastic.

I wouldn't cut them off personally.

This is Oak, it will regenerate foliage on these branches.

Target prunning back to the trunk, will on such an old tree inevitably result in decay, as the cuts will not callous over.

 

Much beter imo, to leave them to allow time to develope their own compartmentalisation.

 

The canopy will oscilate and dampen wind load far more efficiently with them on.

 

Still go with the reduc spec, but blend the overall shape with the fractures in mind.

 

Would like to see a shot after the work

 

 

.