Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome may not be something you’ve heard of, but it is quite common. We believe it’s something important to discuss because many people may not be aware of its existence. If you’re passionate about your trees, looking for a tree inspection, or just curious to know about various tree diseases, this is one that you should know about. In this blog, we will break down what Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome is, its negative effects on a tree’s health, and how you can prevent it from happening.
What is This Tree Disease?
The disease, which has also been referred to as sudden limb failure or summer branch drop, is characterized by tree branches suddenly breaking off and falling, usually without any warning signs. This particularly occurs on healthy trees and also during the summer months. It doesn’t apply to winter with snowfall just because that’s more common, and this is more prevalent in warm climates.
Wind or storms might normally be what causes tree damage, but with sudden branch drop, on a nice, cool summer day, when the weather is relaxed, your tree will just randomly start losing limbs. It can happen at any moment; you simply may not know how or why. This can be extremely dangerous to people and property.
So let’s talk about why this happens.
What Causes Sudden Branch Drop?
The most likely cause of this syndrome, according to professional aborists, is that it is due to moisture levels, internal stress, or there’s a link to bacteria. Either one of those three can come from certain things, like if the tree has too much water in it, or if bacteria from another disease have corroded it over time, but never fully dropped the branch from it being weakened.
The overabundance of water can be produced by floods/heavy rains following a period of drought or dry weather, which oversaturates the trees, causing the branches to weaken and create stress.
Something like bacteria or gas-related effects could be due to something called Ethylene Gas buildup. This is when temperatures fluctuate or floods, as just mentioned, cause drought, leading to stress and the buildup of gas over time.
It is possible that it can occur multiple times, so addressing tree damage from sudden branch drop quickly is important.
What Trees Does Sudden Branch Drop Affect?
The most common tree in Western New York is the oak tree (particularly red oaks). Oak trees of every kind of the most susceptible to Sudden Branch Drop, given how large and weighted the branches on these trees are. This is because the branches are pretty extensive, causing the weight to be heavier.
Elm trees, Eucalyptus trees, Sycamore trees, and Beach trees are four other kinds of trees that may be affected, even if not completely relevant to the WNY areas. Any tree type that is known for having extensive branches and canopies for its size could be susceptible. In general, with any tree, the size and weight, and even the size of its leaves it will factor in with Sudden Branch Drop happening.
How to Prevent Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome
By having regular tree inspections, you can give yourself a better chance at preserving any tree. This is especially the case with older trees. Regular pruning and trimming by a professional arborist can also help. If you notice any imbalances or structural questions, it’s best to have a professional come take a look. Watering your trees and proper soil management can help prevent issues with water stress and keep your trees healthy and strong. Make sure you know if your tree is a susceptible species, and if so, keep an extra watch on it during dry spells of weather.
What to Do If You Experience Sudden Branch Drop
The first thing is to talk to a professional arborist. These professionals know your trees better than anyone and will give you the best analysis on the next steps to take.
Once they are finished analyzing and cleaning up any tree damage, the most likely scenario that they will tell you about is that your trees might require being trimmed or potentially removed.
Trimming and pruning are processes that help to preserve trees’ long-term health, and that’s something we pride ourselves on at Bradley Tree. Unless the tree must be removed, we want you to be able to keep it as long as possible without future damage.
Remember, if you notice something seems off with your trees, call Bradley Tree to have an arborist come take a look!