Dissecting a DEFECT (in a tree)

I took the time to dissect a significant defect in a tree to better understand the extent of this weakness. Looking at it from the outside, lead me to believe that this tree was hazardous. Until I cut into it, I did not fully realize just how bad it was. I started at the top of the main crotch and took 6 inch crosscuts all the way down to the base. I photographed and shot video at each increment.

I also understand that a weakness in a tree is going to be different depending on the type of tree. This particular variety is a cultivar with recognized structural defects common to this species. Another type of tree will be much different in the potential for extreme weakness such as this even with similar external observations of defects.

What I have learned from this dissection tells me a lot about what can happen with this type of tree but I must be careful not to jump to conclusions about other varieties of trees. I learned a lot from this inspection and hope that you find this valuable as well.

[djensen]

You have forever changed the way I look at trees. Every time I see a tree, I start inspecting its root zone for manmade structures and examine the trunk and branches for evidence of poor pruning practices

[rdaltry]

I think the best part of your videos is the obvious passion you have for what you do. In that, you are a lucky man.

[CONCERTMANchicago]

What an opportunity! Picture of tree when young would be interesting to see. I am regularly confused by experts that perform Resistograph or Arborsonic Decay Detector work, but never follow up later with real observations of same trees pieced out insides. Since I was a kid, local Arborist would put aside any unique portions of limbs or trunks they discovered for me. Then later when I learned that Dr. Shigo had been doing same for decades, realized I might not be crazy after all. Hey BG, except for this Modesto...notice how an Ash can bundle multiple stems together? Compared to other species that would instead,  have problems merging with included bark. I have sometimes discovered a trunk of a single stemmed Ash tree, produced from multiple stems when still young. Crazy.

[PaddyPatrone]

Really interesting video, thanks Blair!

[mattyduncan]

Man. You make some immensely informative videos. Genuinely. Thank you for them.

[MichaelFlester]

Thanks for documenting this. Super helpful.

[johnlord]

Same old story of non-maintenance by the home owner, allowing additional main trunks to grow up and merge (but never fully join as 1 integral trunk. Happened with all those lower branches early in the tree's life (10-15 years old) up until it was cut down.

Some of those flush cuts are the same when I did the City of Fremont's park of the old NorCal Nursery (old Roeding company property) fruit yard (original Luther Burbank Santa Rosa plum orchard) and apple trees. Complete heartwood interior rot I wanted to clean out, then put in concrete (not wise) to strengthen these old girls (1900s). Reason why I get flipping angry at homeowners and landscapers who plant trees too close to houses, flush cuttings, non-maintenace of their trees over their lifetime, ... and preventative pruning for double/multiple main trunks, crossovers, broken/weak limbs, downward branches, etc etc..

[courtneesdad]

Very interesting. Im getting a free education watching your videos and not getting much else done around here because I cant stop watching. You guys see a dying dead tree, I see some beautiful grain wood lol The more you cut the more i see beautiful grain. He should have kept a few pieces and made pen blanks as souvenirs

[agentbertram]

I don't know how you can put up with all that sunshine Blair. It must be awful!
If you ever want a holiday in Scotland (where it is misty most of the time and raining the rest of the time) just let me know, OK.
We live in remote Argyll where the view is lovely... when you can see it. :O(
Interesting and informative video though, all of your videos are excellent. :O)

[earlrumble]

Again, I so wish I were in your area to harvest some major nice bowl blanks from your work. I tend to cringe when I see you chipping up the big limbs. As far as the tree was concerned you were totally correct in taking it down...a disaster waiting to happen.

[cobaine]

Great follow up to your original story.

[ronaldgaytan]

Great video. Nice bucket truck any videos of you using it. What's the height reach

[jenniferwhitewolf]

Bacon! Amazing internals.. bugs, heart rot, splits.. educational! A section of that multi-way split would make an amazing table top.

[SuperSkyback]

Thanks for video, Blair! How do you think, may be some supporting system like cabling would good for that tree? And what do you think about same problem in oaks? I was asked to prune two big oaks with same signs on bark, one was lightning striked. And i suspect big decay in main trank. I remowed all dead and diyng branches, but not sure what to reccomend, leave or remove that trees. They more than 1, 5 m in diameter and 30 meters height.

[TheTreeSeer]

Good demonstration of how a large wound on a codominant leads to trouble. Any cut over 4" diameter should be reconsidered. There's no such thing as a proper removal cut on a codom like that. Codoms do not have collars.
But were the owners really told that the tree would need to be cut back "really hard", AND cabled, AND still know the weakness would still be there?

Cuts over 4" are really hard pruning, but much of the load could have been removed with smaller cuts. The weakness would be mitigated enough by pruning 20-30% off, OR it could have been cabled with only light pruning. Research shows that 15% off the end can lessen loading by 50%.

You're right; this is a sad story. If the owners had a more detailed idea about pruning specifications, or the 30+ year lifespan for cabling components, they may well have hired you to maintain the tree for the rest of your lives.

[danr]

Can you speak more about this "soil" found in the cracks? Is it soil blown in from the outside or is it the tree decomposing?

[spencergregory]

I'm from the UK and I think Psuedoacacia robinina has very similar bark structure and are prone to splitting. Also what are your thoughts on Pinus radiata?

[wandawTube]

If I missed a related video prior to this one, I apologize. How did you cut this tree down? Did you remove it from the top down and/or use your bucket truck? If someone tried to fell this tree, with the splits in the base, would it be likely to barber chair? I'm trying to learn how to recognize trees that are most likely to barber chair (if that's possible).

[TheKopakah]

9:10 Do you think those where roots from the tree? I've never seen adventitious roots like that before

[michaeldougfir]

Very telling. More about CODIT. Thank you.