Drought condition trees can be extra dangerous

[Burnham]

It came to my mind to toss this out there, from my safe rocker on the front porch .

Over the many years I climbed, and instructed climbers, it was a normal part of the hazard analysis to consider droughty weather as a factor that can/will increase the likelihood of limb and even stem breakout, in many species of trees.

So a word of warning from this old climber...this year in many parts of the US, it could be a real factor to pay attention to.

Take care, my friends.

 

[lxskllr]

We don't really have that issue here, but how long does it take a tree to recover? Been dry as hell, but you just had a nice soaking rain. When does it turn back to a "normal" tree?

 

[Burnham]

Not really a clue, here. But my guess is, more than a single rainy day, for sure. I think I'd be looking for more than a rainy month, even.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

The weight added to the limbs during transpiration here in hades makes for sudden/summer limb drop. If the tree has defects inside a limb, they fail. I have had limbs 24" diameter fall where i had been standing 24 hours prior. As a rule, we do not park our cars under trees. Picnics should be under healthy trees (if you can tell) or under an awning you brought with. Any tree with poor attachments V in stead of U is subject to having a failure in our temps.


And mind you TIPs. Work your way up more from larger tie ins

 

[Bermy]

Good topic Burnham.
I would hazard a theory that a prolonged period of a very low soil moisture index could raise the caution flags.

 

[Altissimus]

Other side of it here now , we've had 13" of rain this month , whole trees (mostly softwood) have thrown in completely still conditions ...

 

[frans]

I will chime in here…
In terms of drought stress, trees react in ways we humans find difficult to understand. For example a drought year 5 years ago may just be showing severe effects now.
trees in general live much longer than humans. Seems simple to comprehend, difficult to realize day to day

 

[Bermy]

Not enough people think in the time scale of trees.
I reckon there is an element of truth in the character of the 'Ents' in Lord of the Rings...