Thoughts on weeping willow failure

[Chris at eden]

Are you thinking it exhibits some of the signs of summer branch drop?

 

It could be I suppose but that wasn't my thinking with the rain. I was thinking extra weight and increased static load and the effect that would have on aerodynamic drag.

[Gary Prentice]

Are you thinking it exhibits some of the signs of summer branch drop?

 

It could be I suppose but that wasn't my thinking with the rain. I was thinking extra weight and increased static load and the effect that would have on aerodynamic drag.

 

I don't think SBD involves union failure. Gilmans work on the relationship of the ratio of branch to stem failure is worth a read, and matthecks recent work. I'd agree with chris's original assessment

[Chris at eden]

I don't think SBD involves union failure. Gilmans work on the relationship of the ratio of branch to stem failure is worth a read, and matthecks recent work. I'd agree with chris's original assessment

 

Cheers dude. I agree SBD is usually further out on the limb in my experience.

[Chris at eden]

Willow doomed because of tear outs and exposed tissue? Nature is never very subtle, often why we can sometimes prevent this from happening in the urban environment by shortening lever arms. Still looks to me like self optimisation along with all other suggestions here.

 

All fair points but the tree failed from a defect and I just wouldn't personally call that strategic. That's just my view though.

[Chris at eden]

Does anyone have any thoughts on how this ties in with the clever clip model for branch attachment?

[Gary Prentice]

I tell you you when I finish my independant research project:001_tt2:

 

 

I think the clever clip is only available in hazel,

[Mountain man]

Willows break up a lot, looks to me like a simple mechanical failure.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

the "white powdery mould like substance" could be the mycelium of Laetiporus sulphureus a common brown rot decayer of willow.

 

 

.

 

you beat me to it old boy!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Interesting! The fork looks like it was intact until failure, and the 'mould' must surely have come from within. Do you think the brown wood at the centre of the stem is consistent with rising internal decay? Since you pointed it out to me a couple of years ago, I have been noticing that L.s seems readily to exploit internal cracks in Willow from the bottom up with little or no aeration.

 

all heart rots are able to exploit in fact often prefer the high carbon atmosphere in wood

[daltontrees]

It could be I suppose but that wasn't my thinking with the rain. I was thinking extra weight and increased static load and the effect that would have on aerodynamic drag.

 

Extra weight and increased static load may be one of the factors in summer branch drop. I'm kind of convinced it is.