Certain species of trees develop wood that is brittle and will break apart easily under stress from winds, snow or ice. They are also generally "messy" trees which lose twigs and small branches throughout the year.

Another bad characteristic is that they develop branch forks or crotches that have a narrow angle. These types of connections are inherently weak and are more liable to break under stress than crotches that have a wider angle between the branches. In fruit trees, young trees are purposely trained to have wider crotch angles so that they can handle the weight of the fruit load.

Generally, the one thing that all of these trees have in common is that they are known to be "fast growing" plants. This rapid growth rate translates into wood that is not strong and durable. These types of trees should usually be avoided for use in the home landscape.

Some trees with weak forks and brittle wood:

• Bloom Failure
• Brittle Wood
• Cold Hardiness
• Drainage Problems
• Forsythia Not Blooming
• Grade Change
• Hosta Clump Dieback

• Hosta Drawstring
• Hosta Leaf Meltout
• Hosta Herbicide Damage
• Hosta Spring Damage
• Hosta Spring Dessication
• Hosta Sunburn
• Ice Damage to Trees

• Nutrient Deficiency
• Root Problems of Trees
• Shade Tree Decline
• Shallow Tree Roots
• Transplant Shock
• Wind Damage
• Winter Damage

Note: We have provided some general information and observations on this topic aimed at the home gardener. Before you take any serious action in your landscape, check with your state's land grant university's Cooperative Extension Service for the most current, appropriate, localized recommendations.