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Trees Landscape Design

Is my birch tree a fall risk?

5 years ago

I have a 50ft birch that splits into two main trunks near the ground. One trunk has a 20-25 degree lean and I'm worried it could fall in a storm and damage my neighbor's patio and fencing.

If I eliminate the leaning trunk will my tree survive?

See photos in next post...

Featured Answer

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)

5 years ago

Evaluating risk is important here...it does exhibit characteristics that would generally indicate a higher risk but the tree is otherwise in good health so it would likely take some pretty extreme weather. What is it actually going to hit if it falls in the direction of its lean (b/c that's where it's going to go). Is the damage going to be that great? It looks like a fence and maybe whatever that thing is in the neighbor's yard (grazing blow if anything). Cost to remove now will likely exceed the cost to repair if it falls.

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Comments (6)

fjguy33
Original Author
5 years ago
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
welcome to the forums.. if you plan on hanging around ... add your location on your member's page.. so it appears in all your posts ..

that said.. where are you ??? ... hurricane zone??? ... heavy wind potential??? ...have you ever watched in during a storm ... does it whip around ???

ken
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It will rebark itself for protection right? ==>>> are you asking if its genetically capable of surviving without your interference ... lol .. one would hope so ... e.g. bark of young maples is smooth ... maybe upwards of a decade ... but sooner or later.. and we always have to think in tree time ... the bark matures and changes ... it doesnt necessarily mean anything is wrong ... its not a great link.. but see the differences https://www.google.com/search?q=bark+of+young+maples&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjciu_bzP_NAhXix4MKHe4KBgYQ_AUICCgB&biw=968&bih=745&dpr=0.9 i am still wondering about being planted like a telephone pole.. and wonder how deep the root flare is ... another link ... https://www.google.com/search?q=bark+of+young+maples&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjciu_bzP_NAhXix4MKHe4KBgYQ_AUICCgB&biw=968&bih=745&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=root+flare sooo ... my bottom line ... its not some hundred foot tree hanging over your house.. so no immediate need to do anything proactive.. unless you are interested enough to pull back some of that soil and grass around the trunk and find out about that ... but again .. in tree time.. it may or may not be an issue... within a decade or so ... ken
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fjguy33
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I’m in Overland Park, KS. We get a few big thunderstorms every year with tree-damaging gusts. We recently moved into this house, and seeing its movement during the last storm has me concerned about its stability.

The tree is definitely strong... it has thrived for 20+ years with the prior homeowners. The lean just worries me given how large the tree is and potential for costly damage if it falls.
fjguy33
Original Author
5 years ago
At a minimum it would take out some fence and likely damage the neighbor’s tree. It’s hard to see but he recently installed a nice patio with fire pit, however it doesn’t appear to be in the direct path of the lean.

You may be right that the cost to remove today is similar to expected damage, so from that perspective it makes more sense to leave the tree alone. Maybe I can have it trimmed next season to alleviate some of the weight on the leaning trunk.
Dalton the Bengal (Zone 6)
5 years ago
Trees don't always fall the way the are leaning. Our arching tree was torn out of the ground and landed almost 180 degrees opposite the arch and UP the hill. What do you mean when you say it was moving? I think swaying in a storm is a good thing, but the Tree Forum can correct me...

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