Longitudal splits

[Stumper]

What are your opinions about limbs with splits?

 

[Ax-man]

Depends on the situation of course, if small and not to noticeable I'll remove, if it is a major lead I'll reduce weight.

Stumper, I didn't see install brace rods in your poll, this is a good alternative to one or the other choices. I've done this type of vertical bracing to three Norway Maples and one Oak with large split limbs. If the limbs or leads, as was the case with the Maples had been removed the trees would have been disfigured.

Larry

 

[Stumper]

Criticism noted and accepted. I didn't give enough serious options. I really was going for a sort of knee-jerk response. I voted for retaining and lightening but honestly I probably remove at least half of the ones I find. The little ones that won't leave a serious void in the canopy go but the ones that would leave a big hole or constitute a large percentage of the canopy I try to keep. I've found so many old splits that are strong and functional that I don't worry much about them.-If the limb survived the big load without snapping off then it will probably last until some woundwood reinforces the edges of the split and brings the stiffness back up. In the meantime I'll lighten and prune to direct the growth back into the void that the limb's sag has created.

 

[TreeJunkie]

I agree w/ what everyone has said. It really is necesarry to see the branch in question. As Ax man noted if the removal of the branch will disfigure the tree then removal is a last alternative. Bracing and weight reduction are a definite possibility as well as cabling the branch back.
I voted for weight reduction.

 

[ORclimber]

Depends on what the limb is over and how big a hole it will make in the canopy. I lightened and left a lot of split pine limbs after this years ice. Old split limbs are common in pines around here. Split fir limbs get removed because they are so long and probably won't make it anyway. It seems like if hardwoods split, it's usually a trunk.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Recently braced an oak limb~12" that was split in a '96 storm.

Reduce and leave most--80%? Rot-resistant trees like cedar need less reduction. Remove if too hazardous or unimportant to structure or if wound response is poor.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Limbs don't go bad.
I'd find out why it broke and fix that.

 

[Stumper]

Fantastic Mike. I knew that God loves arborists but I didn't think He would assume your identity and promise to micro-manage the weather so that needed heavy snowfalls would be mitigated over specific limbs to spare them.:alien:

 

[wiley_p]

Depends on species, my mood, and what the "arborist" wrote on his/her work order. Also the request of the customer, they seem to be fond of shaping on the East side of the lake here.