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Letter to Mike Fulford Hort Science, Inc. <br /> Deodar cedar trees, 4189 Stanley Blvd. Page 3 <br /> The pattern of branch failure in the three trees was similar: live green limbs break <br /> several feet out from the point of the attachment to the trunk. As they fall, the branches <br /> may break additional limbs. It is very difficult to identify limbs that are likely to break in <br /> this manner. <br /> The structural defect most commonly reported as associated with branch failure in <br /> Deodar cedar is heavy lateral limb. Of 55 reports of branch failure in the Calif. Tree <br /> Failure Report Program database, 32 were associated with heavy laterals. The normal <br /> procedure for managing this type of branch is to reduce the length and weight through <br /> pruning. <br /> Based on my observations of the tree, I believe the likelihood that one of the trees will fall <br /> over to be low. There were no indications in any of the tree that the entire tree was <br /> unstable. It is highly likely, however, that additional branches will fail in the future. The <br /> reason for this assessment is the presence of numerous heavy lateral branches. In <br /> addition, each of the trees possessed the upright stems similar to the one that failed in <br /> tree #62. Finally, arborists have observed that trees that have experienced failures in the <br /> past are more likely to have failures in the future. <br /> In my view, it is reasonable to approve the permit to remove tree #62. The tree has had <br /> numerous failures including the unusual loss of an upright stem. The overall form is now <br /> asymmetric as the side of the tree near the house has few branches remaining, with a <br /> dense crown on the west. <br /> In contrast, I believe the risk of branch failure in trees #61 and 63 could be reduced by <br /> pruning to reduce the weight on lateral branches. Pruning would also reduce the <br /> potential for branch failure on tree #62, but it will not correct the asymmetry in form. I've <br /> enclosed specifications for pruning all three trees. <br /> Please feel free to contact me with any questions, I look forward to hearing from you. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> James R. Clark, Ph.D. <br /> Certified Arborist WE -0846 <br /> Registered Consulting Arborist #357 <br /> Encl. Pruning specifications <br />