Sagging Limbs

jazzy

The Washington DC area got between 16" and 23" of snow in Dec 2009 that covered our Leyland Cypress trees causing the limbs to sag a lot. I attempted to knock off the snow by shaking and/or yanking on the limbs. Although this didn't break the limbs they are sagging a lot after the snow melt. Could doing this (shaking and yanking on the limbs) to the limbs caused the limbs to sag more than if I had just left them alone? Could the sagging have been made worse by shaking and yanking on the limbs to try to remove the snow?

glennak

I wouldn't think yanking on the limbs would have done much, unless you split the branches. It would more likely be the constant weight of the snow over time. Perhaps some weight reduction would help.

TrevMcRev

Yes, there are some bad sagging limbs around...

Like glennak said, maybe some weight reduction is needed.

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Eric Frei

In Trev's picture the sagging occured after weight loss, trees are unable to do the same because when weight is lost (by pruning) the internal wood of the existing diameter does not shrink and bark does not hang like loose skin.

Jazzy, let spring and summer take it's course. You may find the limbs straighten up.

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