Eucalyptus Limb Drop - Who is to Blame?

SAN DIEGO - Nov. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- It was just after Labor Day, while enjoying a walk through Morley Field, a portion of Balboa Park in San Diego; I came across an enormous limb lying on the ground beneath a 75′ tall Eucalyptus cladocalyx (Sugar Gum) tree.

I had just walked through the same area two days before, so this limb drop must have occurred at some point during the Labor Day hoiday.  Fortunately, no one was injured and there appeared to be no property damage.

The use of many large growing Eucalyptus species within a park setting is not unusual. The Sugar Gum is an excellent tree for screening and creating wonderful skyline vistas. However, like any living, growing organism, age and maintenance practices take a toll on theses majestic trees. Hazards accumulate within the crown, trunk and roots that left untended, increase the likelihood of a tree part or whole tree failure.

As trees age, they acquire defects. Eucalyptus trees that are not maintained or receive sub-standard maintenance practices acquire wounds through pruning, lawn mowing, string trimmers, over irrigation in turf areas, and soil compaction. Poor pruning cuts such as topping or heading Eucalyptus destroy the tree form and become entry points for wood rotting pathogens. The decay that caused the branch failure most likely occurred from one of several previous pruning cuts resulting in decay.

If someone is injured or killed when a limbs fails, is it the trees fault or negligence on the part of city tree care workers? The failure would not be an act of God, because it is obvious the limb is dead and decaying, the failure is easily predictable. Perhaps it is city policy to take the gamble and hope an accident doesn’t result in a lawsuit.

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