Arborist in San Diego explains why wind topples eucalyptus trees more easily

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — One of many dozen largest timber that fell throughout this week’s Santa Ana winds was a pine tree, however the remaining have been all the eucalyptus selection.

Yow will discover these timber throughout the county, and so they’ve been in California for the reason that late 1800s. They have been planted by the 1000’s to construct railroads.

These timber ended up being too brittle to assist trains. They’re additionally not superb for dealing with highly effective wind.

“Eucalyptus has a extremely dense, heavy wooden. So you find yourself with a number of weight up above the bottom,” stated Lloyd Snapp, who works at an Escondido tree nursery. “It may well make it slightly bit trickier for the roots to counterbalance that or maintain that up once you get a number of resistance from the wind.”

Snapp says this month’s rainfall additionally makes it tougher for timber to face as much as robust winds.

“When the bottom will get saturated, it will get loads softer,” stated Snapp. “It makes it slightly bit tougher for the roots to carry their floor. They will let unfastened after which the timber will topple over.”

Generally, the tree’s location makes an enormous distinction.

“The soil composition. If there’s a number of rocks or granite within the soil the roots cannot go as deep,” stated Snapp.

He says now could be the proper time to guard your timber from falling down.

“Should you’re gonna do any main pruning or thinning, it is best to try this within the fall or the winter in preparation for the wet season — and when wildlife is not as energetic,” stated Snapp. “Professionally pruned timber, thinned out… They’re gonna fare loads higher than the timber which might be basically rising wild.”