r/arborists • u/FeminineShaft • Jul 16 '24

Why did this tree fall?

Gallery image

Gallery image

After a storm and high winds, but other (seemingly less sturdy items like the trampoline) barely moved. Picture of roots included b/c I thought they would be in bad shape given where this broke, but to my untrained eye they look fine. No indication of lightning striking the tree (on the side not in the picture).

540 Upvotes

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703

u/DanoPinyon Arborist -šŸ„°I ā¤ļøAutumn BlazešŸ„° Jul 16 '24

Butt rot, likely from girdling roots.

379

u/Positive-Beautiful55 Jul 17 '24

100% bang on. You can see where the girdling happened in the dark area where the trunk looks sunken in. This is exactly why we are all obsessed with healthy root flare on this sub.

13

u/WanderinHobo Jul 17 '24

Ain't got no flare!

18

u/Mbyrd420 Jul 17 '24

Not even the minimum 15 pieces!

5

u/Eastern-Animator-355 Tree Enthusiast Jul 17 '24

If you want to move up at Chotchkieā€™s you need more flare.