 |
| 3 Canyon split |
If you are familiar with the Bay Area, you'll know that the last two weeks have been abnormally windy for us. During the windiest days, all we had was some extra leaf cleanup. It was the calm day after though in which we lost a portion of two trees on the course. As much as I can't stand wind, I can't blame the wind as much as I can blame the multi-branched tree.
 |
| Broke at bottom and continuing to split |
There is a fascination with multi-branch trees and I admit that I do enjoy a well trimmed multi-branch tree as much as the next person. Nurseries will top trees when they are young knowing that these multi-branch trees sell better to the consumer. The problem is, as our Arborist Neil Woolner of Arborwell says, "they are structural shit". You get multiple branches that are going out at severe angles that can't handle its own weight.
 |
| Wild multi-branch that will be trimmed and slung |
So the question then becomes, what can we do to keep these trees from falling apart? There are a few options that we can take in order to preserve the multi-branch trees. The first option is to get into the tree and trim it up removing a lot of the weight. If you have only one option, this would be my choice of things to do. To take it a step further though, cables or slings and posts can be used to preserve the tree.
 |
| 2 Canyon post |
On number 1 of the Canyon course, we used a sling to help keep the tree together being that it is a key tree. Another key tree for us is on number 2 of the Canyon course and in this case, Arborwell installed a post to help the branch support the weight. In both cases, the trees were heavily trimmed of unnecessary weight prior.
 |
| 1 Canyon sling |
