My Texas mountain laurel is broken :(
I just came home to 1/4 of my beloved Texas mountain laurel snapped off! So sad….
Has this ever happened to anyone? I have no idea what happened :(
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Oh Heather! Will the tree survive that damage? The only time I’ve seen anything like that was after a sudden storm as the result of a downdraft. That is so sad! I hope when you solve the mystery you’ll update to let us know what happened.
Thank you! I’m so sad. No storms….. nothing weird weather wise. I need to investigate….I’ll for sure keep you updated. :( sad! – xericstyle
That looks terrible. Texas Mountain Laurels are quite tough so it should heal up and keep growing but I’ve never seen one do that. I remember reports of “straight-line winds” which are also called “downbursts” in the Stone Oak area in the last 10 days or so. You might check it out even it it’s not that close to you.
Thanks, Shirley – I will. Rot doesn’t look too bad… not bad enough to destroy that trunk. Who knows :(- xericstyle
I’ve never seen that, and I’m unfamiliar with Sophora being weak-wooded, and susceptible when hit by a storm – but it is large, so maybe a branch weight issue…or old that it can shed a branch? I hope you pruned that branch off carefully, as to not cause it to tear any more from the main trunks.
Also, think if or how you might prune other branches, to give it balance again.
Thanks, D! Yes…we attempted to prune minimally…but ended up taking off that trunk. :( we still have the other main trunk thank goodness! When we pruned off affected trunk it was dry rotted all the way through the xylem…. like a tunnel…making it a ticking time bomb to deteriorate and fall on my now large Agave Americana. So….decided to take it out now rather than later. I am glad the rest of the tree seems okay. Still sad…but gardening teaches acceptance of what is, that is for sure! – xericstyle