Trees Down

Written for the Davis Enterprise by Don Shor, John Lichter, Yael Franco, and Dr. Greg McPherson

On January 8, 2023, the Sacramento region was hit by a powerful storm, one of a series of ‘atmospheric river’ events that caused widespread damage to trees. Several dozen trees went down in Davis, dozens more on campus, and the city’s Urban Forestry Department fielded hundreds of calls for service. This has led to concerns about which trees present hazards that might become risks.

Pine tree toppled by wind on the UCD campus. Photo by Stu Pettygrove.

Tree failures and limb breakage in storms

Why do trees topple or experience major limb breakage in these windstorms? Why some and not others?

An important function of the root system is anchorage

We often visualize tree roots growing much as the tops do: tender new growth emerges, grows rapidly under favorable conditions. But an important difference is that roots generally grow out much more than they grow down. The vast majority of a tree’s roots are typically in the top foot or 18 inches of soil and grow well out past the tree’s canopy.

Why some and not others?

The speed and direction of wind are very important. At high enough wind speeds, and when wind comes from unusual directions, limbs and then whole trees fail, even those with the best structure. It has been a long time since we had 63 mph winds in Sacramento and that is a big reason we saw so many tree failures.
According to John Lichter, Consulting Arborist, “in my experience, the most common factors that cause trees to topple are high winds, root loss, and root decay. Other factors that can contribute include insufficient soil volume suitable for root growth and/or increased exposure to the wind, such as when nearby tree(s) are removed.”

treedownimage3
Eucalyptus blown over next to a farm field near Dixon. Note that this tree toppled to the west, indicating wind direction from the east.

Major factors

  • Irrigation frequency and distribution. Too frequent or insufficient water can affect the growth and health of the roots. Deep watering is critical to promoting deep rooting that helps anchor trees. Long and slow soakings of the soil allow moisture and roots to penetrate deeper into the soil than frequent, shallow watering.
  • Improper soil preparation at the time of planting, insufficient root volume provided for the tree.
  • Lichter notes root injury (from trenching, construction activity). “The loss of roots from these activities can lead to failure. When roots are wounded, over time fungal decay organisms can compromise root structure and increase the likelihood of toppling. Note that it can, obviously, be very difficult to know if a root system is compromised as it is hidden!”
  • Root defects not corrected at the time of planting can cause younger trees to fail.

Species selection

There has been some discussion about whether certain types of trees had greater likelihood of failure. In the windstorm of January 8 wind speeds of 60 – 68 mph were recorded in various locations around Sacramento. From the U. S. Wind Climatology division of NOAA: “Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph.”
Even healthy well-selected trees can be damaged by winds in that range. Generally, the crown of tall evergreen trees can act like a sail that increases pressure on the branches and roots below. Hence, evergreens (i.e., both broadleaf such as eucalyptus, and needleleaf such as pines and redwoods) tend to be more prone to failure during high winds than trees without leaves.

Limb breakage

Limb breakage is likelier in some species (ask any arborist about what types of trees they get most calls about).

  • Some species have a propensity for very narrow branch angles, which often leads to included or embedded bark between the limb and trunk, weakening the branch attachment. Locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) are examples. When pressure in the form of excess force from wind gets applied, branches with narrow angles or included wood will predictably split, often right down into the trunk.
  • Improper pruning can not only negatively impact tree structure, but it can result in a missed opportunity to improve tree structure.
    • Pruning a young tree to establish a strong structure can reduce the likelihood of tree failure in the years to come.
    • For mature trees, pruning is all about removing dead wood (which is prone to failure) and shortening limbs which are overextended (to reduce the force acting on them during windstorms).
    • Topping or making large diameter cuts to exposed stubs typically leads to multiple, poorly attached limbs just below the cut. In addition, the large cuts are entry points for wood decay organisms which can further weaken the tree.

Trunk breakage

A tree with two or more trunks of similar size with bark embedded between the trunks are at risk of the trunks breaking apart.

Decay

Diseases can weaken branches or the main trunk. Decay, caused by fungi, can weaken the roots, trunk or limbs of a tree. The decay can be located on the exterior of these parts or internally. The impact of decay on the structure is dependent upon its location and extent.

Wind speed

  • Extreme weather events can damage even healthy trees. Winds above 50 – 60 miles per hour (mph) can do significant damage to trees as well as any other objects such as roof shingles, fences, signs.
  • Different types of winds do different types of damage. A strong prevailing wind with saturated soils can eventually overcome the root system’s anchoring of even a healthy tree. Short bursts of wind can snap branches, split limbs, or even break off a tree on the trunk if there is a point of weakness. Wind from unusual directions can cause damage at lower wind speeds.

What can you do?

Have your trees inspected periodically by an ISA Certified Arborist qualified to assess tree risk and pruned regularly if needed to shorten overextended branches and remove dead ones or to inspect and maintain trees if you see any of the following:

  • the tree has started to lean or an existing lean has become more pronounced and there is raised soil on the side of the trunk opposite the lean,
  • there are large dead or broken branches
  • there are cracks extending into the wood on the trunk(s) or major limbs,
  • conks (fungal fruiting bodies which look like a half moon attached to the trunk or roots) are present,
  • bark is missing or bark off the trunk or major limbs.
treedownimage4
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) leaning, more than it did before the storms.

Why do palm trees rarely break off?

Palm trees have completely different anatomy of their trunks and vascular systems, and much shorter, stouter roots which can regenerate very quickly. Palm trees, like bamboo, will bend quite a bit before they will break.

Why plant and maintain trees?

We’ve known for a long time that the benefits of planting trees greatly exceed the costs of maintaining them. But recent research from a 30-year tree planting campaign in Portland, Oregon found that the number of street trees planted is associated with greater life expectancy for the people living in the neighborhoods where the trees grow. Furthermore, that association grows stronger as the trees age and grow. Yes, planting trees can save lives. And active stewardship is critical to keeping trees healthy and safe. Join Tree Davis and support our work to create the best urban forest for our community.

Don Shor is a nursery owner and member of the Tree Davis Board of Directors.
John Lichter is a Consulting Arborist and member of Tree Davis’ Technical Advisory Committee.
Yael Franco is an ISA Certified Arborist and was a Program Manager at Tree Davis.
Dr. Greg McPherson is a retired US Forest Service Researcher and President of Tree Davis.

Scroll to Top