Woke up to my tree split in half. It was healthy as far as I could see but not sure if it was too top heavy. Could strong winds or lightning cause this?
by ambitiousnate
Woke up to my tree split in half. It was healthy as far as I could see but not sure if it was too top heavy. Could strong winds or lightning cause this?
by ambitiousnate
8 Comments
No, it failed from included bark. The unions did not form properly, and the tree had bad growth form. It started to rot in the union and failed.
Hard to tell, but when we have had lightning strikes, the damage appears on the bark as a strip blown out all the way to the ground.
We have a tree in front of my house did the same. These weird storms and high winds did it. My tree was struck by lightning 8 yrs ago and made it until now.
It failed bc it’s a pear tree. This is way too common with them due to the bark inclusion and poor branching. Pear trees are awful
Little bit of bark inclusion + being a Callery/Bradford Pear. These trees are known for being brittle. Grow fast, die fast. Pretty hated amongst in the arborist world for these reasons and their stink when they flower.
I believe they are considered invasive in many regions
It broke because that’s what Bradford pears do when they get to that size. These aren’t long-lived trees and often lose major structural branches. They have brittle wood.
A side note these are awful trees for the local ecosystems. They’re an species that spread rapidly and take over habitats crowding out native plants. They can be extremely expensive to clear once they establish in an area. Many states have started banning the sale of them.
If I were you I’d rip these out and start new with native trees or ornamentals that aren’t aggressively spreading. I know it’s not always easy/cheap to do but that’s my advice.
I’m not sure but it looks like a Bradford Pear. If it is, you should read up on them because they do not last long without some type of breakage.
Thank you all. I’ve learned alot about the type of tree it was. I also have another pear tree out of view right next to it.