I was walking around my yard. I found a big green branch on the ground. It looked really healthy. It was just lying there. I did not see any damage from a storm. The leaves were not dead. I was confused because I did not know why the branch broke off.
A tree can drop branches because of the heat or because the branch is decaying inside or because the branch is not strong. Sometimes it is not a deal but other times it can be a safety problem. If you live in Coastal Georgia you should check your tree to see if it is okay. You might want to call Summit Tree & Land Solutions to come and look at your tree.
Healthy Leaves Do Not Always Mean a Healthy Branch
Just because the leaves on a branch are green it does not mean the branch is healthy. The branch can still be getting water and nutrients. It can be weak inside. There can be a crack or decay or bugs inside the branch. You cannot always see these problems from the ground.
The size of the branch that fell is important. If it is a twig it is probably not a big deal.. If it is a big branch you should pay attention. Especially if it fell near your house or your car. Where you like to sit outside.
Summer Branch Drop Can Happen Without a Storm
Sometimes a branch can break off in the summer even when it is not windy. This is called summer branch drop. It can happen when it is hot and calm outside. The branch can just break off even if there is no wind.
The reason this happens is not always easy to figure out. It can be because of the heat or the moisture in the air or the weight of the branch. It can happen to trees with heavy branches. It can happen in the afternoon when the sun is strong. It can also happen after a spell and then a lot of rain.
The weather in Coastal Georgia can make this happen a lot. If one branch falls it does not mean the whole tree is bad.. You should not ignore it because there might be another weak branch up high.
Heat and Drought Put Extra Stress on Trees
When it is hot outside trees lose water through their leaves. If the ground is dry the roots of the tree cannot get water. The tree has to adjust to this.
Some trees close up their leaves to stop losing water. Other trees drop leaves or twigs or branches to reduce their water loss. A branch can look healthy when it falls because the tree dropped it before the leaves could dry out.
Long periods of heat are hard on trees especially if their roots are damaged or the soil is compacted. Young trees can have a time too especially if they were just planted.
You should check the soil before you water your tree. If the soil is too wet it can hurt the roots. Trees need water. They also need air around their roots.
Heavy Rain Can Make Branches Much Heavier
A tree with a lot of leaves can hold a lot of water. After a rain the leaves and small branches can be really heavy. Big branches can feel this weight a lot. If a branch is already weak the extra weight can make it break.
The ground around the roots can also get soft. This can affect the tree, not just one branch.
Heavy rain is common in the Lowcountry in the summer. Homeowners often check their trees after winds but they forget that water can be a problem too.
You should check your tree after a lot of rain. Look for cracks or branches that are sagging or soil that is moving around the base of the tree.
Weak Branch Attachments Can Stay Hidden for Years
Sometimes a branch can grow in a way that makes it weak. The bark can get trapped between the branch and the trunk. This is called included bark. It can make the connection between the branch and the trunk weaker.
The branch can stay in place for years even if it is weak. It can grow big. Have a lot of healthy leaves.. As it gets heavier the weak point can get more stressed.
These kinds of failures often happen where two trunks or big branches split apart. A stronger connection usually has a curve.. Just because a branch has a narrow connection it does not mean it will break. You should just pay attention to it especially if it is a tree near your house.
You can sometimes fix growth in young trees by pruning them.. If the branch is already big there might not be much you can do.
Old Storm Damage May Be the Real Cause
A branch does not always fall during the storm that damaged it. The wind can twist a limb. Make a small crack. The crack might not be visible from the ground. The branch can stay attached. It can look healthy.
Weeks or months later it can break off. This can happen after storms or hurricanes or strong summer thunderstorms.
You should check your tree after weather even if nothing fell during the storm. Look for splits or torn bark or branches that are hanging or branches that are resting on each other.
Do not climb the tree to look at these areas. A cracked branch can break with little warning.
Hidden Decay Can Weaken Living Wood
Decay does not always start on the outside of a tree. Water can get inside through a cut or a broken limb or a lightning wound. Fungi can start breaking down the wood while the outside of the tree still looks healthy.
The branch can look alive because it is alive. It just might not be strong.
You might see some signs of decay, like cavities or soft wood or dark streaks or mushrooms or loose bark. Sometimes there are no signs all. You might need a professional to come and look at your tree.
At Summit Tree & Land Solutions they do not just look at the branch that fell. They look at where it broke and how the rest of the tree is growing. If there are other weak branches.
Much Weight at the End of a Branch
Branches grow towards the sun. Over time a limb can get long and heavy at the end. Leaves and small branches and seed pods and water can all add weight. The branch can start to act like a lever pulling against the trunk.
If you prune your tree poorly it can make this problem worse. If you take off much of the inside growth and leave the weight at the ends it can make the tree look thin near the trunk and thick at the ends. This can put stress on the branch connections and make them break.
Good pruning should make your tree safer without stripping it. The cuts should match the trees structure and age and condition.
You should not just cut branches to make the tree look smaller. You want to make the tree grow in a way and distribute the weight evenly.
Insects May Weaken Branches From the Inside
Some insects, like borers can tunnel into branches. They can interrupt the flow of water. Weaken the wood. The leaves can still look green even if the branch is being damaged.
You might see some signs of insects like holes or sawdust or loose bark or dark sap. If you see woodpeckers on your tree it might mean there are insects
Insect damage is not always the reason a branch falls. It can be part of a problem with drought or disease or past injury.
You should not try to treat your tree without knowing what is wrong. You might use the product and waste your time.
Root Problems Can Show Up in the Canopy
The roots of a tree support it. Bring water to the branches. If the roots are damaged or compacted or too wet the canopy can start to change.
A branch can break before the whole tree looks sick. This can happen if you do construction near the tree like driveway work or grading or trenching. Soil compaction can be just as bad because it limits water and air movement.
Changes in drainage can also matter. If the soil is raised or lowered it can affect the roots.
Think about what has happened near your tree in the year. Has there been any work done? Has water started collecting in an area? This can help you figure out why a branch fell.
Which Trees Are More Likely to Drop Limbs?
Any tree can lose a branch but some trees are more likely to. Big mature trees can carry weight. Trees with horizontal limbs can put more pressure on the branch connections. Past storm damage or old pruning wounds or cavities or multiple trunks can all add to the risk.
Where the tree is located can make a difference. If a questionable limb is over a part of your yard that you do not use it is not as big of a deal.. If it is over your house or your car or your patio you should pay attention to it.
Palm trees can also drop fronds and seed pods. They need checks and proper trimming.
Summit Tree & Land Solutions works with trees and palms and difficult removals in Coastal Georgia. They can use cranes to help with branches or trees that cannot be handled safely.
What Should You Do After a Healthy Branch Falls?
First you should keep people and pets away from the area.
Look at the branch from the ground. Check the end. If it is fresh and solid it might have broken suddenly. If it is dark or soft or hollow it might be decayed.
Then look up at the tree. Is part of the branch still hanging? Can you see a crack where it broke? Are there big branches, with the same weak connection? Has the tree dropped than one limb recently?
Do not stand directly beneath the damaged area of the tree. Avoid pulling on branches or cutting anything that is under pressure from the tree.
Take photos if the area is safe. Pictures of the limb from the tree the break in the tree and the full tree can help a tree professional understand what happened to the tree.
When Branch Drop Becomes an Emergency
A branch from a tree in an open yard may not require urgent service. A large hanging limb from a tree is different.
Call for help when a branch from a tree is resting on a roof blocking a driveway leaning against another tree or hanging above an area people use near the tree. The same goes for damage near utility lines from the tree.
Stay away from power lines. Contact the utility company when electrical service is involved with the tree.
A cracked limb from a tree can shift without warning. Warm weather, rain or a light breeze may be enough to bring the limb from the tree down.
Summit Tree & Land Solutions offers 24/7 emergency tree service across Coastal Georgia. The crew can assess limbs from the tree remove immediate hazards from the tree and clear storm debris from the tree while protecting nearby structures and landscaping near the tree.
Can the Tree Be Saved?
Often yes the tree can be saved.
One fallen branch from the tree does not always mean the entire tree must come down. The remaining structure of the tree may still be sound. Proper trimming of the tree may reduce weight. Remove other damaged sections of the tree.
The answer depends on why the branch from the tree failed.
A tree with one limb from the tree has a different outlook than a tree with widespread decay, major root damage or a splitting trunk from the tree. Location matters too. A tree beside a home may require a cautious plan than one standing in an open field near the tree.
A good inspection of the tree should explain the options for the tree. That may include monitoring the tree pruning of the tree removing a hazardous limb from the tree or taking down the tree when the risk is too high for the tree.
Removal of the tree should not be the answer. Safety should still come first for the tree.
Do Not Wait for the Next Branch to Fall
A tree dropping branches from the tree is easy to dismiss when the rest of the canopy of the tree looks green. The fallen limb from the tree may be the visible sign of heat stress, hidden damage, weak structure or decay in the tree.
Pay attention to where the branch from the tree broke and what is growing around the tree. Look for cracks hanging wood, narrow branch unions and recent changes near the roots of the tree.
Summit Tree & Land Solutions can inspect the tree. Give you a clear idea of what needs attention for the tree. Dustin and the crew bring than 20 years of combined experience, crane-assisted capability and practical knowledge of Coastal Georgia trees like the tree.
Get Answers Before Another Healthy Branch Comes Down
A green branch from the tree on the ground is not something you have to guess about.
Summit Tree & Land Solutions provides tree inspections trimming of trees, hazardous limb removal from trees, crane services and 24/7 emergency response throughout Midway, Richmond Hill, Hinesville, Savannah and nearby Lowcountry communities for trees.
The crew will look at the tree explain what likely caused the failure of the tree and help you decide on the safest next step for the tree. Summit is. Insured, with a Certificate of Insurance available with every estimate for the tree.
Contact Summit Tree & Land Solutions for an estimate before another heavy limb, from the tree catches you by surprise.