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!5 reports were from southern California cities.

 

 

 

Date: Mar 5, 2010
Name: Ron BennettI would like to know the number of Phoenix canariensis with trunk failure (crown drop) in northern California in the past 10 years.
Reply

Mar 6, 2010
From: Katherine Jones

That would be good to know. Unfortunately, very few palm failures are reported to us. We have only one report of Phoenix canariensis. It was a trunk failure. It might be helpful for you to contact cities where they are very commonly planted, such as San Francisco and San Jose.

 

Date: Dec 30, 2009
Name: Robert SartainIs it possible to get a copy of the annual meeting. I am unable to attend this year as in southern california there is the annual Street Tree Seminar Western Tree Symposiun on the same day. I am especially interested in the presentation by Charles Filmer on Substantiating sudden branch drop. If I cannot get notes form the presentation can I get a contact number or email for Charles Filmer. Thank you.
Reply

Dec 30, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

If handouts or summaries of the talks are provided by the speakers they will be made available on the web site after the meeting.

 

Date: Sep 27, 2009
Name: Richard KirchnerI have approximately 20 italian cypress around the southwest edge of my property here in Ridgecrest, CA. All were grown by a high desert nursery and all that were planted 19 years ago survived, and most are over 20 feet tall today. Three years ago one suddenly failed. Today I found three more immediately adjacent to where the first one was. They appear dried out despite the apparent health of the others, although all were stressed by the constant beating from the fronds of an adjacent palm. Several years ago most of the Arizona cypress in the area were killed off but Ive not noticed it in the italians.
Reply

Sep 28, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

It isn't clear from your question what  you mean by "failed." For our purposes we define a failure as a broken branch, trunk or uprooting. Our data doesn't contain information about dead trees unless the tree failed after dying. You might benefit from an on-site visit from a consulting arborist who is familiar with conditions in your area. You can locate one at http://www.asca-consultants.org.

 

Date: Sep 16, 2009
Name: David Croom,MDMy Oak has just experienced 4 separate sudden limb drops.2 limbs on 9/12/09 at the same time on opposite sides of the tree and 2 more limbs yesterday in mid-afternoon, 24 hours after our first rain. I am not a member but are you interested in me or my arborist filing a report, and or in any samples, photos?
Reply

Sep 16, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

We would be pleased to receive reports about these failures. Reports don't have to come from arborists, but if you do it yourself we ask that you use the ITFD form and read the ITFD manual first. Both are downloadable from this site. Then mail the report to our Half Moon Bay office. Photos would be great too. If you have them in digital format, send them to treefail@mac.com.

 

Date: Sep 1, 2009
Name: Nancie JantzI work for a tree company and have noticed a lot of limb failure from both Oak trees and pine trees. They usually fail during winter months but seems more are failing during the summer months
Reply

Sep 2, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

Your observation is correct except that it doesn't apply to this year alone. Our data shows that both oaks and pines do fail in summer months. Of 846 reports of pine failures, 28% failed in the months of May through September. Of 974 reports of oak failures, 34% failed during those months.

 

Date: Aug 31, 2009
Name: Katherine JonesThere are 47 Sequoia sempervirens trunk faillures in the database. Only one report mentions fire damage. Do decay was evident in that tree. Date: Aug 26, 2009
Name: Chris SchroederHow many Sequoia sempervirens do you have in the database with trunk failure. How many of those trunk failures had cavitys/Old Fire damage? Thanks for your help again!
Reply

Aug 31, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

There are 47 reports of Sequoia sempervirens trunk failure. Only one mentions fire damage. No decay was evident in that tree.

 

Date: Jul 31, 2009
Name: Chris SchroederOf those 128 reported with no structural defects how many of them failed within the summer months or temperatures greater then 90 degrees?
Reply

Aug 1, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

Of the 128 there are 14 reports of temperatures 90 or above. However, of  the 128 there are 48 reports of branch failures in the months of May through September in temperatures of 70 degrees F. or above. There is  a slight error in reporting where in nine cases "no defects" and "heavy lateral limbs" were both mentioned.

Your question seems to imply an interest in the sudden (summer) limb drop phenomenon. There are 35 reports where the cooperators either thought this was the case or the reports fit most of the following parameters. If the parameters, temperatures 70 or above, little or no decay, failure away from point of attachment, low wind, no precipitation, are applied the 35 trees sort out as follows:

 

Temp. 70 or above:   34, not reported 1.

 

Little or no decay:  all

 

Away from attachment: 18, at attachment 6, unreported 11

 

low wind: 26, moderate wind: 7, unreported 1

 

no precip:  33. unreported 2

 

The genera for these 35 cases are:

 

Acacia 1,Cedrus 1, Celtis 2, Eucalyptus 6, Liquidambar 1,Paulownia 2, Pistacia 1, Metrosideros 1, Platanus 1, Populus 1, Pseudotsuga 1, Quercus 10, Sophora 2, Ulmus 5

 

 

 

 

 

Date: Jul 31, 2009
Name: Chris SchroederHow many trees have been reported for limb failure with no defects present?
Reply

Jul 31, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

Interesting question. There are 4615 reports in the database. 1616 of those are branch failures. There are 128 reported with no structural defects apparent. The genera with 5 or more reports in this category are:

Cedrus 6 (5 with no decay)

 

Cupressus 10 (8 with no decay)

 

Eucalyptus 31 (29 with no decay)

 

Pinus 6 (1 with no decay, 2 decay unreported)

 

Quercus 31 (13 with no decay, 1 decay unreported)

 

Ulmus 11 (2 with no decay, 4 decay unreported)

 

 

 

Date: Jul 30, 2009
Name: Chris SchroederScenario: Large over mature black oak with co dominant stems. One stem breaks out, and the remainder of the tree is still standing. Would you consider this trunk failure or branch failure. Follow up question- You have a large 38" DBH White Fir with a co dominant top. One of the tops breaks out would you consider that branch failure or trunk failure. Last question: You have a 26" DBH 128ft tall Douglas fir with a a codominant stem that starts 30ft off the ground, and twists around itself with 10ft of included bark. Right next to it is a 38"DBH by 116ft tall Sitka spruce with long Mature Branches (5" diameter by 25ft long) Which of these two trees would you be more concerned about.
Reply

Aug 11, 2009
From: Larry Costello

Black oak with codominant stems: trunk failure

White fir with codominant stems: trunk failure

 

Doug fir with codominant stem and included bark: significant concern --- needs close inspection and monitoring.  Remedial action should be considered.

 

Sitka spruce with long branches: we don't have info about branch failures in Sitka spruce.  Suggest checking with local arborists for observations regarding the frequency of this type of failure in Sitka spruce.

 

 

Date: Jul 6, 2009
Name: MarieI planted 11 Italian Cypress in 24s a few weeks ago. They were deep watered when planted then watered every six days. It started to get hot and I went to see them and they are dry. I took the watering to every 4 days in the 85-90 degree heat. Any suggestions?
Reply

Jul 6, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

CTFRP data can't help with this problem. I've forwarded your question to  someone who can give you some advice.

 

Date: Jul 1, 2009
Name: VickieMy ficus(indian laurel) leaves are turning brown and falling off, the tree almost looks dead? can anyone help?
Reply

Jul 1, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

The CTFRP data can't help with this problem. Lots of questions need to be asked in order to come up with a solution. Where do you live? I can help you find your local Master Gardener help line. Or, to find a consulting arborist near where you live, go to http://asca-consultants.org

 

Date: Jun 17, 2009
Name: Mark PorterDo have failure data on Ceratonia seliqua? Thank You
Reply

Jun 22, 2009
From: Katherine Jones

There are 4615 failure reports in the database today. Only 23 are Ceratonia siliqua. 8 Trunk, 5 Branch and 10 Root. Mean age 26 years, mean DBH 15 inches and mean height 23 ft. Structural defects reported are 5 dense crown, 3 failed portion dead, 2 multiple trunk/codominant stem, 2 lean, 1 each of heavy lateral limb, uneven-top heavy, multiple branches at same point, crack/split, none and 5 other. Decay was a factor in 19 cases. 19 trees failed during the months of November through February. Precipitation was reported in 15 cases and 11 trees failed in winds over 25 mph.

 

Date: May 23, 2009
Name: Frank OnoDoes the CTFRP data base have any information regarding coast redwood tree failure, particularly in fire damaged trees?
Reply

May 25, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
We have reports of 99 Sequoia sempervirens failures. Mean age 50 years, mean DBH 29 inches and mean height 75 feet. Trunk (51%), Branch (20%) and Root (29%). Decay was a factor in 36% of the combined trunk and root failures and 2% of branch failures. There was no mention of fire damage with any of these failures.

Date: May 18, 2009
Name: Rita LowittMy neighbor has two cypress trees side by side. They have grown from potted plants for the last nineteen years and are about the height of a two or three story apartment building. Very tall and columnar and filled out. My question is whether they will continue to get taller, and are they a danger to my house which is within its fall distance should they fall. Are they wind resistant? It gets windy here in Ukiah, CA. The trees appear to be very healthy. Thank you for your answer.
Reply

May 21, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
The CTFRP database does contain reports of cypress failures, but a question about the structural stability of any individual tree requires an on site evaluation. Growth in height does slow down over time but it's reasonable to assume that those trees will continue to grow. Wind can be a factor when trees fail, but often there are other contributing factors involved. Perhaps you could discuss your concerns with your neighbor and arrange for an evaluation by a consulting arborist.

Date: Apr 30, 2009
Name: Max ButlerData on Quercus lobata failure please.
Reply

May 1, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
There are reports on 219 Quercus lobata failures; Trunk 26%, Branch 42% and Root 32%. Mean age 158 years, mean DBH 45 inches and mean height 63 feet. Defects reported over 10% of total are Heavy Lateral Limb 25% and Failed Portion Dead 11%. Decay is noted as a contributing factor for trunk (26%), branch (41%), and root (33%). 40 % of the failures occurred in the months of November-February and 35% in June-September. No precipitation is noted in 59% of cases. Wind: less than 5mph (50%), 5-25mph (26%), and over 25mph (24%).

Date: Apr 28, 2009
Name: Jan ScowData on Pinus halapensis whole tree failures please?
Reply

Apr 29, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
There are 67 Pinus halepensis reports in the database. 17 of those are whole tree (root) failures. Mean ht. 54 ft., mean DBH 25". Month of Failure: Jan (3), Feb (3), Mar (2), May (1), June (1), July (3), Oct (1), Nov (2), Dec (1). Structural defects reported: dead (1), multiple trunks (1), uneven branch distribution (1), dense crown (1), lean (5), kniked/girdling roots(3), none (3), decay (some 13, none 3). Soil conditions: saturated (10), shallow (3), good (1), compacted (1), dry (1). Precipitation: rain (11), none (6). Wind: moderate-high (12)

Date: Apr 16, 2009
Name: Mark PorterA question was asked on the American Society of Consulting Arborist list serve concerning the safety of Douglas fir during earthquakes. The question came from Oregon. My initial thought was that no tree failures were ever reported concerning earthquakes as a contributing factor to any reported failures. In 30 years of pracice I have witnessed only one trunk failure, a Morus alba (fruitless mulberry tree that failed during an earthquake. This happened in southern California years ago centered in Big Bear. The tree (>36" dbh)was predisposed by a co-dominant trunk with a bark inclusion. The quake was 50 miles away and the trunk split in half at the fork with the inclusion. I dont remember if I sent in a failure report. Do you have any tree failure reports concerning earthquakes as a contributing factor? If so, what defects were reported as contributory?
Reply

Apr 16, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
The CTFRP form doesn't have a tabulated field for earthquake related failures, but a search for the word "earthquake" revealed only the Morus alba failure you reported.

Date: Apr 4, 2009
Name: davei have a row of monterey pines, that i need failure data on to prove to the property owner that these pines are a hazard because of the age and vigor levels
Reply

Apr 6, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
The database contains 481 reports of Pinus radiata failures. Mean age 60 years, mean DBH 33inches, Mean height 70 feet. Trunk 26%, Branch 40%, and Root 34%. Of the structural defects reported 52% included heavy lateral limbs (32%), lean (10%) and dense crown (10%). No decay was noted in 75% of cases. 75% failed in winds over 5mph. Some precipitation was noted in 63% of cases. 52% failed in the months of November-February, 21% in March-June, and 22% in July-October.

Date: Apr 1, 2009
Name: Frederick F. FletcherA 50 foot, age 25 palm tree grows in my Sacramento back yard. How can I best assess the risk of tree falling in gusty (40 knot) wind conditions? I appreciate your time and expertise here. best, FFF
Reply

Apr 1, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
There are only seven reports of palm failures in the database. Four failures were dead trees. One was a branch (a frond on a palm) and the other two were root failures with root decay. It is always best to get expert on-site advice about structural stability. Try finding help through the American Society of Consulting Arborist's web site at http://asca-consultants.org. In the meantime, check your tree for lean. Increasing lean is a cause for concern.

Date: Mar 14, 2009
Name: matt goodmanHello; there is a diseased 40 Grevillea Robusta (Silk Oak), with weeping sores at its base, planted along an urban sidewalk near my house (Oakland, CA). Im wondering what the disease might be. Am also concerned about property damage due to tree failure (eg in high winds). Any advice/suggestions (nature of problem, course of action, whom to contact, etc)? Thanks!
Reply

Mar 15, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
We have only 7 reports of Grevillea robusta failures. 4 trunk and 3 branch. Decay was listed as a factor for all of the trunk failures. Weeping at the base can be an indication of decay. An on-site evaluation is needed to determine structural stability. You can locate a consulting arborist near where you live at http://asca-consultants.org

Date: Mar 2, 2009
Name: Trevor DouglasHi, Can i please have some cuurent stats on failures in Liquidambar species? Thanks.
Reply

Mar 3, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
There are 97 reports of Liquidambar failures out of 4603 in the database. It is the 9th most commonly reported genus. Trunk 37%, Branch 61% and Root 2%. Mean age 26 years, mean DBH 18 inches and mean height 42 ft. The most commonly reported structural defects are: Multiple trunks/co-dominance 27%, Heavy lateral limbs 22%, Embedded bark 18% and Dense crown 15%. No decay was noted in 73% of cases. 90% of the failures occurred in areas of medium to high use. 65% of the failures occurred in the months of October, November, December and 26% in the months of June, July and August. No precipitation noted in 64% of cases. 87% of the failures occurred in medium to high winds.

Date: Feb 19, 2009
Name: Michael BaefskyAny reports of Ficus microcarpa branch failures?
Reply

Feb 19, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
Not much. Of 28 Ficus failures reported, only 10 are F.microcarpa. 2 trunk, 4 branch and 4 root. Mean DBH 34 inches. For structural defects, 3 reports each for codominance, embeded bark and dense crown, 2 each for heavy lateral limbs and multiple branches at the same point. In 5 cases the failed portion was dead. For decay, 5 reported none, 2 root rot and 3 heart or sap rot. Eight of these failed in moderate to high winds. In 6 cases it was raining and in 4 it was not.

Date: Feb 11, 2009
Name: PAT MINERsyagrus romanoffiana Queen Palm trimming happened 1.5 yrs. ago old boots are sheading to reveal a old chainsaw cut into the trunk. it is 3inches deep. The mature tree is growing fine. the tree will have to be cut down so wind wont cause the top to fail and fall on something. my question to you is can the damage happen in hurricane cut and never be detected?
Reply

Feb 13, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
There are no reports of Queen palm failures in our database. Your situation requires an on-site inspection of the tree to determine if there is actual damage or if the "cut" that you notice is a natural feature. The arborist or consultant could then asses the potential for failure.

Date: Feb 11, 2009
Name: Pat MinerI have two Queen Palms that look as if they were cut by a chainsaw right under the old boots that remain on the trunk of the tree. Could these injuries have happen 1.5yrs ago unnoticed untill now the boots fall off revealing this damage? the top growth is fine but the trees will have to be taken down so in high winds they dont come down Date: Jan 22, 2009
Name: Nancy HardestyI have two sequoia sempervirens about twenty feet apart, same age. the eastern one now has dieback in top 4 ft plus/minus. (Trees have 48" diam or more). Both straight upright. Does it do any good to deep root fertilize these now?
Reply

Jan 23, 2009
From: Larry Costello
I doubt that the dieback is related to fertility issues. More likely, it's caused by canker-forming pathogens (Botryosphaeria sp or Coryneum sp) or by water deficit. If the dieback is confined to a discrete part of the tree (e.g., just the top, or a branch), then it's likely to be a pathogen. If it's distributed generally throughout the crown, then it's more likely to be water deficit. With water deficit, the parts of the crown with greatest exposure to sun and wind will show more injury than protected parts. I recommend that you make sure the trees receive sufficient amounts of water during the summer months. By keeping them well irrigated, there's a lower potential for infection --- and likewise for water deficit injury. Fertilization is not recommended --- in fact, it may exacerbate the problem by increasing salt levels in the root zone.

Date: Jan 2, 2009
Name: Mark PorterAgenda for No Cal 2009 Meeting?
Reply

Jan 2, 2009
From: Katherine Jones
CTFRP Annual Meeting 01/08/2009 9-9:15 Welcome 9:15-9:45 Case studies 9:45-10:45 Nelda's top Ten: The 10 most Important Things I've Learned in Risk Assessment in the past 10 years. Nelda Matheny, Consulting Arborist, Hort Science Inc. 11-11:30 Measuring Lean: Equipment and Techniques. John Pronos, Plant Pathologist (retired), USDA Forest Service 11:30-12:00 The Role of Insects in Tree Failures, Dr. David Wood, Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley 1:00- 1:40 Tracking Tree Failures Throughout Northern and Central California. Charles Filmer, PG&E Vegetation Management Program 1:40-2:20 Locating Roots using Ground Penetrating Radar: A Progress Report. John Lichter, Consulting Arborist, Tree Associates 2:20- 3:00 Coast Redwood in Urban and Forested Settings: What's the Difference? Blair Glen, Owner, Saratoga Tree Service, Saratoga CA 3:00 International Tree Failure Database Training (if sufficient interest)

Date: Dec 27, 2008
Name: D Byrnesneed failure info on monterey cypress in northern ca specifically ratio of trunk failures to uprooting of entire trees im doing the 3rd report for a set of trees and want to bolster my info with hard data numbers that the owner cant dispute. i dont know why the other 2 arbs reports were thrown out, but my report is going to the state housing board. thank you
Reply
There are 435 Cupressus macrocarpa failure reports out of 4600 reports to date. Root:153reports Mean DBH: 32" DBH groups: 1-18" 24%, 19-42" 54%, 43" and over 22% Decay: none 63%, some (50% or less) 26%, Wind 25mph and over: 95% Rain 84% Trunk: 78 reports Mean DBH: 23" at point of failure DBH groups: 1-18" 375, 19-42" 58%, 43" and over 5% Decay: none 35%, some 65% Wind 25mph and over: 50% Rain: 70% Date: Dec 4, 2008
Name: George King IIHi I have a Monterey cypress tree growing in my back yard in San Francisco and it is about 6’ from the property line. The circumference of the trunk is about 11’ the canopy / treetop is about 50’ .I am guessing at the age of the to be to be 75-95 years old. I have been very diligent in maintaining the tree for the last 13 years. My neighbor is planning to completely remove their existing house and rebuild a replacement. My question to you is how much root pruning can these trees take? They will need to excavate for a new building foundation. The new building will go to the property line as well. This tree is only 6-8 feet away from the property line. Can you recommend some one to who come out and evaluate the health of my Monterey cypress tree and provide me with a written evaluation report? I consider the tree to be a valuable amenity to my property and to the neighborhood. Thanks George
Reply

Dec 5, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
You are wise to seek on-site advice about your tree. Every situation is different and major roots may or may not be on your neighbor's side of the fence. We can't recommend a particular consultant, but you can choose one by going to the web site of the American Society of Consulting Arborists http://asca-consultants.org The site describes the two levels of expertise for the members and allows you to search for someone near where you live.

Date: Nov 10, 2008
Name: Art FloresTrimming a Quercus virginiana tree during the fall or winter make it prone to fail. What i mean will it be harmful to make cuts to this type oftree.
Reply

Nov 11, 2008
From: Larry Costello
Art: I'm unclear about your question. Are you concerned about how pruning may affect the structural stability of the tree? Or, are you concerned that pruning during the fall and/or winter months may have an impact on the health of the tree? If you could clarify this for me, I'll be able to offer a specific response.

Date: Oct 26, 2008
Name: Barri BonapartCan you tell me what the ratio is of eucalyptus tree reported failurees to presence in tree population--e.g, I know it is 3rd highest in number but what about per capita? Also, is there any data re fire related "failure" of eucalyptus (blue gum in particular)?
Reply

Oct 30, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
Our data doesn't go that far because there is no way of knowing exactly how many trees of a given species exist. We can say how many reports, the types of failure and what the contributing factors were for the species, but that's about it. If, for example, an area was selected and every tree was counted and every failure was documented in the area, you could talk about failures per capita. Of 569 reports of Eucalyptus to date only 3 mentioned fire as a factor.

Date: Sep 30, 2008
Name: Jennifer WuWe have a redwood tree (~70 years old) in our backyard with two co-dominant leaders with included bark. During a storm last winter, a 30-foot length of one of the leaders split off mid-way and punctured our neighbors roof. The remaining length of that leader is about 30 feet, while the other leader is about 60 feet long. We solicited opinions from two different arborists. One recommended cabling between the leaders, topping the 60-ft leader to remove weight, and pruning every few years. The other recommended removing the remaining length of the shorter leader altogether, since he believed it was a matter of time before it was going to come down. Considering your reply on April 30, reporting 17 redwood failures involving multiple trunks, should we consider removing the tree altogether, something both arborists mentioned, but didnt recommend? Apologies if this is not an appropriate question for this forum.
Reply
CTFRP can only give you the results of the data we have collected. Advice about any individual tree is beyond the scope of the database manager. Sometimes arborists offer advice on this forum based on their own experience and that can sometimes be helpful. However, it is always best for any individual tree to be examined on site. If you are unsure about the advice you have received from the two arborists who have already looked at the tree, maybe one more would tip the balance. For that, the American Society of Consulting Arborists can help. Their web site is www.asca-consultants.org. Date: Sep 16, 2008
Name: pam parsonsCould you please tell me if any people have been killed by falling eucalyptus branches in California over the last 5 years or so? (Our local paper asserted there were several deaths in the US and Australia because of eucalypt tree failure, and Im just checking facts.) Thank you very much!
Reply

Sep 17, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
CTFRP does not keep the statistics you are asking for. Reports are submitted voluntarily and many failures that occur are not reported to us. When there is a death or severe injury due to a tree failure, the case is often in litigation and we may not receive a report about it for some time after the the failure if at all.

Date: Sep 5, 2008
Name: Brai RumseyI recently purchased a Bonsai tree from Ikea and the label on the bowl says Picus Microcarpa which I presume is the name of the tree. I would appreciate any information you could provide. Thank you.
Reply

Sep 17, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
You may have misread the label. Did it say Ficus microcarpa? If so, it would be Indian laurel fig. You can compare your plant with photos on Google images.

Date: Aug 27, 2008
Name: Paul CaseyResponse to Don Zimar. Here are some figures from a UK perspective. Obviously these would differ for the USA as there are differences in populations. However, it may be a start: The risk in any one year of being killed by a tree in a public space in the UK is about 1 in 20 million. A regular lottery player is apparently 75 times more likely to win the lottery jackpot than be killed by a tree in a public space. Total accidental deaths in the UK number over 12 000 per year. About 6 of these are due to trees. You are 2000 times more likely to die from some other type of accident than by being hit by a falling tree. You are around 600 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than by a falling tree. (source: uktc) Hope this helps. Regards Date: Aug 26, 2008
Name: Don ZimarHow many tree failures each year result in the death or injury of an individual. What is the statistical riak of being injured or killed by a falling tree?
Reply

Aug 30, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
CTFRP doesn't tabulate death and injury information. Thanks for the UK statistics, Paul! If anyone wants to research US information, federal statistics are available at http://www.fedstats.com. Accidental deaths, category W-20, are classified by the International Classification of Diseases as "Struck by thrown, projected or falling object" this includes falling stones, rocks, trees, buildings and cave-ins. http://everything2.com (search for accidental death odds) offers some interesting information.

Date: Aug 13, 2008
Name: Michael CowanI would like to know other arborists experience with the likihood of Arbutus menziesii failing; i.e. a perfectly healthy tree failing. YOur input would be greatly appreciated
Reply

Aug 30, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
Of 4539 reports to CTFRP to date, only 9 are Arbutus menziesii. Trunk (3), Branch (1) and Root (5). Decay was reported as a factor in 7 cases.

Date: Jul 20, 2008
Name: TomI live in Houston, and have observed sudden limb failure in a Green Ash tree in the parking. Regarding discussion of the cause, it seems the root cause is pruning the "suckers" off the limbs which drives the limbs to be longer and heavily weighted with foliage at the ends. The cure is apparently "crowning", or removing some of the weight from the ends of the limbs, combined with not pruning the interior shoots that will regrow. The tree is healthy, and according to two arborists this treatment will solve the problem. Since everyone I know who has their trees professionally pruned has them "cleaned up" with removal of the suckers to make them attractive by emphasizing the limb structure, I wanted to pass on that this practice is apparently not a good idea from the point of view of sudden limb drop. The tree has had two limb failures, both on hot summer afternoons, suggesting that the "straw that breaks the camels back" could well be engorgement with water in times of heat stress, but the root problem is too much foliage at the end of the limb caused by pruning off the unsightly suckers. One arborist indicated that allowing the suckers to grow also causes the limb to thicken and strengthen, as well as changing the weight distribution to a better pattern. Date: Jul 8, 2008
Name: Jamie InashimaJust out of curiosity The statistics say 4500 failure reports and gives % of the most reported, but how many different species have been reported?
Reply

Jul 9, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
96 genera, but many include only one or two reports. In the fall, time permitting, I'll post a list of all of it. In the meantime, feel free to ask about any species of particular interest.

Date: Jul 8, 2008
Name: Ray GirouardI am seeking information on limb failure or uprooting of E. Globulus that resulted in property damage, injury or death. My purpose is as follows. We live in a suburban setting and have a number of blue gums on our property. Our local jurisdiction defines a heritage tree as any tree except acacia that is 4 ft. in circumference at 4 ft. up from the ground. (I wonder if a member of our planning commission has an allergy issue with acacia.) I have decided to make another attempt at obtaining a permit for removal of am E. Globulus and am building a file of harmful incident caused by blue gums that were planted in inappropriate settings. Any information that is available from the CTFRP would be most appreciated. Thank you, Ray Girouard 650-327-4424
Reply

Jul 14, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
There are 4539 failure reports in the database to date. 240 of those are Eucalyptus globulus. Of those there are 85 reports of property damage of varying severity including damage to power lines, vehicles, buildings and other structures such as fences and park benches. Also noted is damage to other trees and landscapes. Included are 5 reports of personal injury.

Date: Jul 7, 2008
Name: ken loomisHave observed pine limbs, especially stone pines, sag down considerably with out actually breaking or cracking. This is a problem with powerlines when they are below the limb. Want to know the cause and if there are any indicators to look for that limb sagging will occur. thanks! Date: Jul 2, 2008
Name: Nick radociKathrine: What are the lastest failure results for Euclyptus amygdalina? Thank you
Reply

Jul 2, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
There are no reports in the database for Eucalyptus amygdalina. To my knowledge, it is not a species commonly grown in California. There are 569 reports of Eucalyptus failures and the great majority are E. globulus (240) followed by E. sideroxylon (85), E. camaldulensis (40), E. viminalis (33), E. ficifolia (24), E. polyanthemos (20), E. nicholii (17), E. citriodora (15). There are 46 reports of Eucalyptus "species unknown". There are also 19 other species reported in numbers less than 10, some only one or two.

Date: Jul 1, 2008
Name: Paul CaseyResponse to Robbie Bell - RE: Ganoderma Ganoderma zonatum, which is what I assume you are referring to Robbie, is an incurable pathogenic disease of Palms. There are currently no cultural or chemical controls for preventing the disease or for curing the disease once the palm is infected. It is recommended that infected palms should be removed as soon as possible after the conks appear on the trunk, removing as much of the stump and root system as possible. Further, because the fungus survives in the soil, planting another palm back in that same location is not recommended. Sorry I couldnt post a more positive response. Date: Jun 27, 2008
Name: Robbie BellGardner hacked at bottom of queen palm trunk with edger, now have Ganoderma conchs, tree dying. I soaked with fungicide. Any other suggestions or are my trees doomed? Date: May 20, 2008
Name: Ann SeccombeA client of mine has an 18" dia. Sequoia sempervirens that is now 3 ft. away from his livingrm window. The root buttress is 7" AGL. Should I reccommend that he take it out, or design around it? He loves this tree.
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May 22, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
There are 32 records of Sequoia sempervirens root failures in the CTFRP database. Of these, 3 mention root pruning under "maintenance history" and 4 list root cutting under "restricted roots". Your question implies more than a request for information about failure however and a consulting arborist could help you decide what to do. If you and your client live anywhere near Larkspur, a walk along Madrone Ave. will illustrate many examples of buildings, sidewalks and driveways amongst redwoods of various ages and sizes.

Date: May 16, 2008
Name: Roger BucholtzCan I get more specifics on the 17 failures in redwoods mentioned in your response to Augustin on April 25, 2008?
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May 19, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
The following summary includes 19 Sequoia sempervirens trunk failures that list multiple trunks/codominant stems as the first or second most important structural defect associated with the failure. 10 also listed embedded bark. Mean age of these trees is 37 years, mean height 76 ft. and mean DBH 33 inches. Mean height at point of failure 38 feet, and mean diameter at point of failure 15 inches. No decay was noted in 11 cases and some in 7. 14 occurred in a group, 4 stood alone and 1 in an altered stand. 15 stood in sites of medium to high use and 2 low use. 16 failed in high winds (over 25mph) and 2 in moderate winds (5-25mph)

Date: May 16, 2008
Name: Paul CaseyHi Don Similar question posted on March 10th 2008. The response then was: Mar 10, 2008 From: Katherine Jones There are 4440 reports in the database today. 240 are Eucalyptus globulus. Mean age: 62 years, mean DBH 43 inches, mean height 82 feet. Failure type: trunk 15%, Branch 37% and root47%. Most commonly reported structural defects including decay are heavy lateral limbs 25%, multiple trunks/codominant stems 12%, kinked/girdling roots 11%, failed portion dead 8%, Some decay 52% (28%root) and no decay 48%. 49% of the failures occured in winds over 25mph and 8% under 5mph. Precipitation was a factor in 57% of the cases. Date: May 15, 2008
Name: don rodriguesStatistics on Eucalptus tree failure especially E. globulus. Date: Apr 25, 2008
Name: augustinHello, I have a stand of redwood trees in an urban setting. I noticed that one tree, with a DBH of 35", has a codominant growth with included bark. I can also see a distinct line coming down from the crotch. I have been told that redwood trees do not fail as readily as other trees so I should not worry. My question is, are redwood trees exempt from the same type of scrutiny given to other trees that have included bark in a codominant leaders?
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Apr 30, 2008
From: Larry Costello
Augustin, No --- coast redwood is not exempt from the same level of assessment as other trees with codominant stems. In the CTFRP database, we have 17 reports of redwood failures in which multiple trunks were identified as the key defect. Just because they're coast redwood, they should not be ignored. Apply the same assessment process that you would use for other species of trees.

Date: Mar 24, 2008
Name: Warwick VarleyKatherine, what are the failure results for Eucalyptus nicholii? Thanks
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Mar 24, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
There are 567 Eucalyptus failure reports out of 4440 total reports. Only 17 are E. nicholii. Mean age: 20 years, mean DBH 18 inches, and mean height 38 feet. 6 were branch failures, 4 out on the limb and 2 at the attachment. No decay reported in 4 of the branch failures. There are 4 trunk failures (3 at ground level,no decay reported) and 7 root failures (no decay reported in 5 cases) Kinked/girdling roots was the most commonly reported structural defect (6 cases).

Date: Mar 14, 2008
Name: Mark PorterKathrine: What are the lastest failure results for Cupressus macrocarpa? Thank you.
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Mar 17, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
Out of 4440 reports to date, 430 are Cupressus macrocarpa. 96% of the reports originated from San Francisco Bay Area counties. Mean age: 65 years Mean DBH 40 inches Mean height: 69 feet Mean Crown Spread: 42 feet Trunk 17%, Branch 47% and Root 35% Some decay was noted in 37% of failures and none in 63%. The most commonly associated defects other than decay are heavy lateral limbs(27%), Dense crown (11%) and Multiple trunk/codominant stem (15%)

Date: Mar 6, 2008
Name: Barri BonapartHi Katherine: What is your latest failure data for eucalyptus globulus? Regards, Barri
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Mar 10, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
There are 4440 reports in the database today. 240 are Eucalyptus globulus. Mean age: 62 years, mean DBH 43 inches, mean height 82 feet. Failure type: trunk 15%, Branch 37% and root47%. Most commonly reported structural defects including decay are heavy lateral limbs 25%, multiple trunks/codominant stems 12%, kinked/girdling roots 11%, failed portion dead 8%, Some decay 52% (28%root) and no decay 48%. 49% of the failures occured in winds over 25mph and 8% under 5mph. Precipitation was a factor in 57% of the cases.

Date: Feb 23, 2008
Name: Ann BarklowIs there any statistics on sudden limb drop in liquidambars. Any pertaining to injury or death from?
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Feb 25, 2008
From: Katherine Jones
Liquidambar styraciflua is a "species reported to experience summer limb drop" Harris, Clark and Matheny. Arboriculture, 4th Ed. p.429. There are 96 Liquidambar failures out of 4391 CTFRP total reports to date. 58 of the Liquidambar failures are branch failures. Of those, 5 fall into the parameters set for sudden limb drop. Average age 40 years, Average height 54ft.,average DBH 24 inches, average branch diameter 5.4 inches and average height of the branch 20ft. No information is available regarding injury or death.