Sudden Branch Drop

Sudden branch drop, also known as summer limb drop, is a real concern for tree owners in the UK, as seemingly healthy trees can drop large limbs on calm, hot days.

The phenomenon of branch failure often occurs on a dry calm day after a prolonged dry spell followed by heavy rainfall. Some species are more susceptible to sudden limb drop. Oak, Beech, Horse Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut and Cedar are all a higher risk of failure than other species.

The summer of 2025 has been a particularly dry summer with trees suffering from drought stress and sudden branch drop occurring more regularly than other years.

This week I left Chester and headed down to Stroud in Gloucestershire to carry out a tree condition survey on a mature Oak tree following sudden limb failure.

The tree was situated in a public park with a nearby play area.

Without warning in the middle of the day a large limb failed luckily missing members of the public.

Following the incident, we conducted a new tree condition survey to assess the damage and determine the required remedial work. This was a classic case of summer branch drop; there were no visible signs that could have predicted the failure. In fact, the tree had been inspected in winter 2025 with no observable defects as part of its regular three-year survey cycle.

We recommended remedial pruning for several branches that were damaged by the initial limb failure. To prevent a similar incident, we also advised a minor weight reduction on an over-extended limb that was now exposed

If you're concerned about a tree in Chester, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, or anywhere in the North West, contact Northwest Tree Management today for a professional safety inspection.