J Lee Trees Ltd - Professional tree surgery work Sussex

Visual tree assement

justin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:43:49 +0000

It is possible to identify potential structural weak points in trees through the understanding of certain visual indicators.
This Sycamore was next to a road and very close to some electricity lines. It was approximately 12 m tall.
The tree forked into two stems at about 1.5 metres in height. Included bark (line of tight inwardly folding bark) can be seen running from this point to the ground. The other side of the stem mirrored the included bark indicating a potential crack within the tree.
Included bark is a good indicator of a weak union in a tree.

This weak point of the tree could have split in high winds causing major damage to the electricity lines and could possibly have caused an accident on the road / pavement.
Due to the high risk target area the decision to remove the tree was made.
When the tree was dismantled it became evident how serious the crack was. At some points there was only a few inches of holding wood preventing the tree from failing.
If the tree had been in a low risk target area it could possibly have been retained by performing a crown reduction and with the installation of stem bracing equipment. This would have reduced the forces and loading at the point of the weak union, creating a safer structure.
In this instance, bracing would not have been appropriate and if the tree had failed, causing damage to people or property, then the tree owner could be found negligent in fulfilling their ‘duty of care’.

Snow damage

justin — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:31:19 +0000

Creative snow damage.

Leylandii

justin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:50:27 +0000

This is for those people wondering how tall their leylandii might get.

Pine fell

justin — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:40:43 +0000

Unfortunately this tree was found to have several fungal fruiting bodies of Phaeolus scweinitzii, one on its root plate and two at the stem base.
This fungus causes a brown cubical decay, the rot usually starts in the roots and spreads into the stem causing butt-rot.
The rot can then cause the stem base to fail in high winds.
A specimen of the fungus was sent to a laboratory for testing to confirm it had been identified correctly.
Due to the high risk target area (busy main road) and potential danger caused by this fungus the tree could not be retained.