Eucalyptus globulus limb drop

Jim WATT

We have a concern with a very large bluegum located on private land but also in a public place.
It was planted probably in the 1880s.
It has been 'looked after' with judicious trimming, and recently the roots have been protected from vehicle damage.
It has dropped limbs in the past.
We have a genuine fear of it continuing to drop branches despite reasonable precautions. There is a huge weight aloft, yet an increasingly used footpath and a road are less than 10m away. And a children's playground!
The soils is on a gravel fan, the area is prone to drought and we are subjected to more than two gales a year.
The tree is a local icon, BUT as owners we also have responsibility.
Do we fell the tree? Your comment would be appreciated.

Eric Frei

Perhaps some pictures will help.

The chances of some-one being there in a gale is unlikely.

Pruning over extended and weighty limbs can help. But no lopping or BS reducing to nodes cutting .... thinning also helps. Dead wood the tree.

Fall arrest and cabling systems can help.

Not sure what your regulations are like regarding using growth reduction agents but that could also be an option.

Keep the root area mulched, chunky is best. Perhaps use mycorrhizal soil treatment to help the old tree.

A careful inspection of branch unions would be advisable, perhaps hire an arborist or use an EWP, what you see on top of the branch can be different to beneath.

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