Major failure. If only they acted earlier.

TrevMcRev

I looked at this Corymbia ficifolia today.

Now if you know this species you"ll know how heavily foliaged they get in maturity, and this one was big and spreading.

This tree lost a major co-dominant stem at a triple union.

The lady i met with really likes the tree and wants to try to keep it.

She commented, "If only someone told us if there was any way of preventing this we would have done something".

Now either she must have forgotten, or there is a mystery entry in my database that tells me i inspected this tree in 2004 and recommended Weight Reduction Pruning. The quote did not go ahead.

She mentioned she lived there 7 years, so it's not a new owner either.

Luckily, the failure caused minimal damage. If it were one of the other stems it would have been through the house.

We Arborists don't just make this stuff up. I believe all failures of any significance occur at recognisable defects and the majority can be prevented.

But only if you act upon the advice given.

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Sean Freeman

Ah the beauty of a well documented database interesting failure though Trev, breaking across the grain like that. Was the wood normal down through the defect or did it appear somewhat altered?

Eric Frei

It's certainly a very short stout tree for the dia

I dont have any experience with them but does look heavy on foliage in the tips.

Yes, common isn't it, look after your tree whilst it's green not brown, prune it before it fails not after.

Also Trev, this is part of that "do gum tree shed limbs" issue and the ole "lop them" to make them safer falacy. This is a great example of how those concepts do so well to the lay person.

Also, from my 0.02, large matures are the likely candidates as weight does become an issue.

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mdvaden

So its not easy to tell from here...

Is it salvageable?

A lady in Tigard, Oregon, had a gorgeous silk tree - huge - with on of those triple "tri-dominance" attachments.

Told her it needed bracing, and she skipped it. 5 months later, the winter wind and a little ice ripped off one of the three leaders.

It needed all three, or no remedy. Equally arranged. Any of the three goes, and no way to cable any remaining two.

TrevMcRev

Branch for branch its heavier than any other tree i can think of.

Lots of water in the wood, thick dense canopy, leathery foliage and loads of huge gum nuts. They dont shed all the nuts so over 50 years they get a massive build up.

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TrevMcRev

I think it is Mario. If it were mine i would keep it. Ive recommended (again) Weight Reduction Pruning. There will be a heightened level of risk still with the remaining 2 attachments and cabling wont really work here either.

Reducing the end weight on the major laterals and the sail area on the more upright leaders will help.

Regular monitoring of the wound will be needed.

No doubt the failure has reduced the safe useful life expectancy of the tree.

treestyle

that species looks to be a ripper.

TrevMcRev

Yeah council just planted one on my naturestrip.

They are good trees but not that well suited to n/strip planting.

Those nuts allover the footpath, like having ya rollerskates on