We find many instances where trees exhibit a condition where two or more major leaders come together at their base with a narrow angle of attachment. Those leaders know as co-dominants are in jeopardy of failure. This is one of the most common causes of branch failure and, in many cases, the failure potential can be mitigated by the use of support cables installed in the mid-crown and bracing bolts installed near the point of attachment.
This is the point of failure resulting from a narrow angle of branch attachment. Note the brown area; that is included bark where the two leaders were not connected.
This is the part of the tree that failed and, luckily, did no damage.
Another example of narrow angle of attachment and included bark.
This time the property owners were not so lucky and the tree caused some significant damage.
