Eucalyptus trees suffer due to California drought

Eucalyptus trees are suffering because of California’s drought. That’s the message from a local arborist KION contacted after a falling eucalyptus tree killed one woman and injured a four-year-old child at a wedding in Southern California.

Arborist Bryan Bradford says he’s not surprised to hear about the falling tree in Southern California. He says a lot of trees are struggling, in part, due to the drought. A recent test he conducted showed local soil is suffering.

“The soil dehydration was extensive” says Bradford. “We did probes last year when we were planting down to 20 feet in some places and we found no moisture, so that is significant.”

It’s significant because it can cause the roots of the tree to retract and eventually die off. When that happens, parts of the tree die. As a result, the tree can fall at a moment’s notice–a moment that can be deadly and unexpected.

“In a fall, it would create quite an impact,” Bradford said, pointing to one of the park’s trees. “This is probably around 15,000 pounds of tree that would come down.”

If you suspect a eucalyptus tree needs attention, Bradford suggests calling a professional. That’s because a lot of the changes that lead to a eucalyptus tree’s collapse happen in the tree’s interior and may not show any outward signs of decay.

“It’s best to get an arborist to look at the tree to make sure that the tree is sound,” Bradford.