Tree Hazard: Sudden Branch Drop

Are Your Trees Dropping Suddenly Dropping Branches?

Have branches suddenly been dropping from your large trees for no apparent reason? Even if at a glance it seems like your tree was healthy? We’re seeing “sudden branch drop” emerge as a growing concern for in areas where weather is turning hot and dry.

FEAST OR FAMINE

This past spring, the rains in southern states such as Texas have seemed endless. You might think that all that extra rain could only be a good thing for your trees. And while yes, you're no doubt thankful for all the rain, too much of a good thing can have consequences. The excess water caused soil heaving around roots, nutrient deficiencies and a quick flush of heavy new growth in trees. The heavy rainfall can also cause the vascular systems of many trees to expand very quickly. All of which can cause loss of structural integrity.

THINGS GET HOT

For northern states, it's been a very dry and hot season. When summer heat and drought hits with hot temperatures out of the norm and no rainfall in sight, your trees can suffer in silence without you noticing. And if you live in a southern state that has been getting inundated with rain, you probably won't think much about watering your trees once it's hot and dry. Unfortunately all that spring rain won't necessarily save your trees from long stretches of heat and drought that follow.

Sudden hot temperatures and lack of water cause vascular systems in trees to quickly shrink. That shrinkage can weaken the branch collar (the area where a branch meets the main tree trunk). When a branch collar weakens and less water and nutrients are reaching a branch, it can suddenly break and drop from the tree. To the untrained eye, there may be no obvious external signs of pending branch drop.

Nut and fruit trees - or evergreens loaded up with cones such as douglas firs - can be especially vulnerable to sudden branch drop right now due to the added weight.

REDUCE YOUR RISK

Hearing a loud crack and bang on a windless summer day is scary. A large, heavy branch that falls could cause damage to your roof, car, or worse hurt someone you love. Reduce the risk of branch breakage by following these important tips:

Prune Preventatively: If it’s been years since you had your trees pruned, then you definitely want to have a certified arborist do an evaluation for you. Spotting hazard branches, heavy overgrowth and other issues before they fall, or before the next big storm or period of drought, can save your tree and your property.

Water Smart: Rainfall may be adequate in spring or fall months, but you must remember to step back up your watering of trees during the hot summer months, or during very dry winter months. Consistent watering can prevent conditions such as sudden branch drop.

Feed Your Trees & the Soil: When trees have the nutrition they need both from healthy soil and supplemental fertilization (when needed), your trees will naturally be better able to withstand extreme temperatures, storm pressure, pests and diseases. Adding beneficial microbes to feed the soil can also improve the tree's rhizosphere and increase healthy root growth and development.

Schedule an Annual Tree Check-up. A tree check-up, at least once per year, performed by a qualified and experienced certified arborist or horticulturist can help you catch and prevent disaster before it happens. A trained arborist or horticulturist can identify key nutrient deficiencies, structural problems, pest infestations, pruning issues and many other factors that affect the health of your valuable trees. As well as any issues with soil health and quality. Depending on the number of trees on your property, you may want to schedule quarterly check-ups.