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Summer branch drop phenomenon.
- Thread starter beastmaster
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Pelorus
Uva uvam vivendo varia fit
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jandh@amtelecom
ArboristSite Operative
hokiejane
ArboristSite Lurker
I stumbled upon this thread after Googling "summer branch drop." I'm a homeowner and not an arborist, but I've experienced this first hand. I big limb fell off one of my beech trees when I was about 30 feet away. Scared the crap out of me! It was healthy branch full of leaves.
I have two beeches doing this on a steady basis now. They're losing both large and small branches, but are otherwise healthy looking.
Jane
Maryland
I have two beeches doing this on a steady basis now. They're losing both large and small branches, but are otherwise healthy looking.
Jane
Maryland
arborjockey
ArboristSite Guru
Im pretty sure he called it sudden branch drop not summer branch drop. Its been a while but the other term I thought was clotting. Jus sayn ....
True scientes know the truth. Its a way for God to take out the undeserving
True scientes know the truth. Its a way for God to take out the undeserving
beastmaster
Addicted to ArboristSite
I was referring to summer branch drop phenomenon, http://joa.isa-arbor.com/request.asp?JournalID=1&ArticleID=1877&Type=2
Are they two different things?
I some times answer H.O. questions with,"God would really have to hate you for that to happen.
arborjockey
ArboristSite Guru
Nothing against you beastmaster but I don't click on any link that says isa. Its like a liberal using a link to Berkley for facts.
Might as well came from a Ortho tree pruning book. Jus sayn
I am happy to see you start a thread after a couple of beers.:msp_biggrin:
Might as well came from a Ortho tree pruning book. Jus sayn
I am happy to see you start a thread after a couple of beers.:msp_biggrin:
Arborist App
New Member
4 Reasons for Summer Branch Drop SBD
"The four main possible reasons that appear to be the most logical to explain Summer Branch Drop are:
1. There may be an accumulation of ethylene in the wood due to stress, which causes the cellular ‘cement’ to dissolve resulting in limb weakening.
2. High water flow in conjunction with high water demand by the plant causes water stress in the branch because of an apparent inability to keep up with the transpiration demand of the foliage. That is to say that water loss through the foliage is occurring faster than the plant can take it up through the roots.
3. Failure may be due to increased weight and sap pressure as transpiration is reduced under calm conditions as leaf stomata close on hot days or in response to reduced soil water availability (water stress), making it’s horizontal limbs heavier, leading to failure.
4. Failure is possibly due to the transition zone of tension wood and support wood, at bends, in horizontal branches."
I have this as a presentation:
There are (8) publications available on Summer Branch Drop: Harris (1983), Shigo (1989), Strouts & Winter (1994), Mattheck & Breloer (1994), Lonsdale (1999), Harris et al (2004), and Mattheck (2004).
Harris has the most comprehensive and expansive (1983-2004) information on SBD.
SBD was first recorded in California by Kellog in 1882.
"The four main possible reasons that appear to be the most logical to explain Summer Branch Drop are:
1. There may be an accumulation of ethylene in the wood due to stress, which causes the cellular ‘cement’ to dissolve resulting in limb weakening.
2. High water flow in conjunction with high water demand by the plant causes water stress in the branch because of an apparent inability to keep up with the transpiration demand of the foliage. That is to say that water loss through the foliage is occurring faster than the plant can take it up through the roots.
3. Failure may be due to increased weight and sap pressure as transpiration is reduced under calm conditions as leaf stomata close on hot days or in response to reduced soil water availability (water stress), making it’s horizontal limbs heavier, leading to failure.
4. Failure is possibly due to the transition zone of tension wood and support wood, at bends, in horizontal branches."
I have this as a presentation:
There are (8) publications available on Summer Branch Drop: Harris (1983), Shigo (1989), Strouts & Winter (1994), Mattheck & Breloer (1994), Lonsdale (1999), Harris et al (2004), and Mattheck (2004).
Harris has the most comprehensive and expansive (1983-2004) information on SBD.
SBD was first recorded in California by Kellog in 1882.
Iustinian
ArboristSite Operative
We've seen sudden branch drop in this area (Des Moines, Iowa) quite a bit this fall, mostly on honey locusts and some ash trees. Healthy branches with no evidence of defects (decay, conks, insect damage, included bark, poor crotch/branch angle etc) It has been my observation that the most of the trees we've seen this in were overpruned before the drop occured, and we had a particularly hot and dry summer in this area. Following a fairly sudden drop in temperatures were decent rains, and then sudden limb drops.
We've looked at the cause as being the result of the combination of [over]pruning stress, heat and drought stress, all of which will weaken those branches. Then with the rain, you've got weak branches on a very stressed tree suddenly trying to move literally tons of water thru them. Suddenly adding the weight of water from the big rain. Sounds likely, but nature is full of suprises as you say.
We've looked at the cause as being the result of the combination of [over]pruning stress, heat and drought stress, all of which will weaken those branches. Then with the rain, you've got weak branches on a very stressed tree suddenly trying to move literally tons of water thru them. Suddenly adding the weight of water from the big rain. Sounds likely, but nature is full of suprises as you say.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I skimmed the thread, and saw mention of humidity and H2O in the limb. This is water potential, the hydrogen bond between water molecules is strong enough so that water potential an pull a "string" of water through the tree. soil to roots to stems to leaves and out into the air. So you get a warm day with a nice breeze, then the weather becalms. The micro environment around the leaves balances with the potential of the leaves inhibiting respiration. The problem is that there is still momentum in the water column, then when the wind picks up, or there is a small defect at the bending moment (very common from my anecdotal observations) of the limb the weight of water at the end of the cantilevered limb is too much for it to bare.
Matt Michael
ArboristSite Member
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