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Do trees just fall for no reason????

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Posted by Gigi_4321 none (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 16, 12 at 14:11

At 4am we heard a loud swishing sound, then another. Couldn't find anything amiss in the house so walked outside to this:
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We are in Ca. so no storms, flooding etc. no earthquake. The tree is not diseased or leaning. It split into four sections and fell in an exact north south east west pattern. Did God do this? (as in act of god, per my insurance co)
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RE: Do trees just fall for no reason????

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  • Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
    Sun, Sep 16, 12 at 14:24

Broke apart due to structural weakness. There is foliage in the way but otherwise looks like maybe it was topped or broke off due to natural causes in the past, and codominant side branches finally got heavy enough to tear off. Whether it was topped or not, it is an excellent demonstration of one of the reasons topping trees and then letting replacement tops grow tall afterward is a bad idea - result is the same as if it was topped and then split apart for that reason.

Best idea is to not top the tree in the first place.

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RE: Do trees just fall for no reason????

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No there was a reason. bboy is right, this is a classic co-dominant failure on what looks like a eucalyptus tree that was topped as a control. Eucalyptus were imported from Australia into California around 1880 on as a fast growing forest tree. Thing is they grew TOO fast and have excessively populated half the state, taking over native species. As one method of control they have been cut back severely (topped) but eucalyptus vigorously and quickly grow back this kind of weak 4 way co-dominant sprout that is not nearly as strong as the original stem. This is a major problem in California and there is no easy or cheap way to control their growth (except acts of "God" like this which was really an act of uninformed men)

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RE: Do trees just fall for no reason????

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Eucalyptus do have the bad habit of dropping large limbs with no warning. I know someone who was almost hit by one while golfing.

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RE: Do trees just fall for no reason????

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  • Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
    Tue, Sep 18, 12 at 14:40

Must have been a pretty wild shot.

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