[CANUFNET] hybrid poplar tree hazard

[pwynnyczuk at richmondhill.ca]

If the limbs are shed randomly, ie., no wind, only in summer, or no 
evidence of decay, at one time I remember a comment related to Poplars, 
particularly Carolina Poplar, Populus canadensis, in terms of moisture 
levels in the wood affecting structural soundness.
Rapid changes in weather,  wet to dry and vice versa can lead to 
significant fluctuation in the wood cell size. If there are preexisting 
weak points in the limbs,  these are magnified over time until breakage. 

Any one have similar information?

Regards,
Peter Wynnyczuk

Urban Forestry Supervisor
Town of Richmond Hill
Community Service Department
Telephone:  905 780-2930
Fax:  905 780 -2928
Internet: pwynnyczuk at richmondhill.ca




From:
Vince Rutter <vince at rutterurbanforestry.ca>
To:
Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net>
Date:
06/16/2010 11:43 AM
Subject:
[CANUFNET] hybrid poplar tree hazard
Sent by:
canufnet-bounces at list.web.net




A client's neighbour owns two large hybrid poplar (similar to cottonwood) 
trees that overhang his property.  They are healthy vigourous trees, both 
with many codominant stems and are quite large (2 metre DBH).  That's 
pretty big for here in Thunder Bay!  Over the past several years there 
have been many occasions where branches have snapped and fallen which is 
typical of the species.  The branches are anywhere from 2 inches to 5 or 6 
in diameter.  They are truly concerned about the tree and would like to 
compel the owners to take action.
At best, we could clean the crown, reduce long branches and support 
included branch connections by cabling but I don't feel that would greatly 
reduce the risk of occasional limb breakage.  That said, have any of you 
condemned a tree based on its species characteristics like these poplars?  

This problem comes up fairly frequently here and it usually leads to tree 
removal but in this case all parties involved can't come to an agreement.  


Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
-- 
Vince Rutter, RPF
ISA Certified Arborist
www.rutterurbanforestry.ca
807-627-6201
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.web.net/pipermail/canufnet/attachments/20100616/34b6c356/attachment.htm>