As readers of this blog and our work may know, codominant branches are unreliable predictors of tree failure during storms. At the same time, numerous studies have found that codominant branch unions are weaker than those with more favorable aspect ratios or attachment types. This disconnect may reflect the difference between asking what is stronger and what is strong enough. It could also stem from studying unions in isolation under static loading conditions, which may overlook the dynamic and complex interactions between tree crowns and wind during storms. Whatever the cause, this kind of inconsistency in the research is what really intrigues us.
A Fork in the Road: How Pruning Decisions Impact Codominant Unions
