Summer limb/branch drop

[David Humphries]

My extensive studies have revealed that SLD hardly ever happens, and there's f-all we can do about it.

 

Fair and reasoned analysis there Doctor Bolam

 

In terms of frequency, I've struggled to find any significant data on this specific failure type.

 

From our own records on tree failure going back to 2007, there appears to be evidence of Branch Drop failures at least once during the summer month periods each year, mainly on beech, but also oak and plane (though I'd imagine Massaria shouldn't be ruled out with the latter)

 

 

 

The below from 1990, part of an article on the fatality of a four year old girl involved in an SBD, from the Los Angeles Times..........

 

"Such accidents kill an average of one person a year in California and injure many more, according to Allison Berry, assistant professor of environmental agriculture at UC Davis, who is coordinating a three-year study of the problem.

 

More than 500 such limb failures have been recorded by certified arborists, or tree specialists, in California in the past three years, Berry said. At least a quarter of the incidents involve eucalyptus trees, partly because the trees are so common"

 

 

 

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[Spruce Pirate]

From our own records on tree failure going back to 2007, there appears to be evidence of Branch Drop failures at least once during the summer month periods each year, mainly on beech, but also oak and plane (though I'd imagine Massaria shouldn't be ruled out with the latter).

 

Out of curiosity, how many trees do you manage (if you have a figure, I imagine its a lot)? I know the figures wouldn't stand up to any sort of statistical analysis, but it would be an interesting bit of anecdotal evidence towards frequency. One failure, or couple, during the summer out of a huge number of trees would seem to be pretty infrequent, especially if other causes can't be ruled out. California is a pretty big state, so their figures would also suggest SLD to be pretty infrequent.

 

Personally I've been in the woods 18 years, although mostly in conifers, and I've only seen it happen once on a beech. My own opinion is that there is probably some underlying cause that we haven't figured out and that Mr Bolam is right, there's not much can be done about it.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Has it occurred to anyone to take a moisture meter and measure the moisture content of a new event. Local LA,s should be in a good position to do this as they will get the call when it happens. I have a moisture meter in the dash at all times....don't ask me why...and a pair of bino,s but that's for lunch time wench spotting

[David Humphries]

Out of curiosity, how many trees do you manage (if you have a figure, I imagine its a lot)?

 

Somewhere in the region of 20,000 trees.

 

about 4,500 are plotted and inspected (so far)

 

With roughly 7 million visitors a year over a 600 acre site.

 

 

My own opinion is that there is probably some underlying cause that we haven't figured out and that Mr Bolam is right, there's not much can be done about it.

 

 

 

I would tend to agree that there is little management that can be adopted to mitigate this hazard & associated risk, but perhaps more work on interpreting the potential of this (and other similar tree issues) toward the owners of trees and the public where they have access to them during high winds, heavy snow fall and still, hot, humid days.

 

 

 

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[White Noise]

Very Interested in the mulched and un mulched scenario . We have at my new yard a mature Beech tree . Which has soil and rubble banked up around the base . I would of thought this would affect the root plate . Although this tree has had no failed limbs . My old yard has another equally sized mature Beech tree which has shed limbs and is showing signs of shedding more . This tree is sited in a frequently grazed grassland area .

[daltontrees]

Awww, I ws so interested in this subject but I fear the thread is going to fizzle out wthout conclusion.

In the red corner, SBD is a recognised problem, with the potential to kill and a proven record of doing so. Theories focus on hot weather, still air, perhaops over-extended branches and a handful of species, mostly broadleaves.

In the blue corner, no-one really knows what causes it, it doesn't happen very often or reliably and it might just be nature's way of getting rid of overlong limbs.

It is probably the stuff of dedicated scientific analysis rather than Arbtalk.

[Daniël Bos]

Very Interested in the mulched and un mulched scenario . We have at my new yard a mature Beech tree . Which has soil and rubble banked up around the base . I would of thought this would affect the root plate . Although this tree has had no failed limbs . My old yard has another equally sized mature Beech tree which has shed limbs and is showing signs of shedding more . This tree is sited in a frequently grazed grassland area .

 

"Frequently grazed grassland area"...

If that means a conventional, not many animals/acre for a few weeks at a time.

It'll be likely to be very compacted, much more so than the effects of dumping some soil or rubble.

[daltontrees]

"Frequently grazed grassland area"...

If that means a conventional, not many animals/acre for a few weeks at a time.

It'll be likely to be very compacted, much more so than the effects of dumping some soil or rubble.

 

True, Beech give so much shelter in the rain and so much shade in the sun that animals seem to spend a lot of time under them, trampling and churning up soil.

[fagus]

Mmm... mulching is food for thought as the soil would be less liable to temperature and moisture fluctuations.PHD anyone.

[Rich Rule]

One on Sunday. I warned a couple of families that it had fallen recently that it probably wasn't that wise to have a picnic under there. 2 of them moved but sometimes you can't fix stupid! The lady who stayed there was looking after a number of kids.

 

Species was an Ash, no wind or rain that day...