Information on summer limb drop of this species.
Any further information as to its weaknesses and or strengths.

Reply to post by Mike Beebe, on February 03, 2000 at 15:02:07:

Mike,
I'm not sure whereabouts you're located, but in Sydney, Australia, they are considered an environmental weed.
Personally, I have found them to be not particularly strong and often have a lot of epicormic/suckergrowth throught the canopy, as well as deadwood.
Hope this helps a little.
Salena

Reply to post by Mike Beebe, on February 03, 2000 at 15:02:07:

As to the question of summer limb drop, I don't have a research-based answer. I am providing an information source which I have found valuable since it was passed on to me:
http://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/silvics_manual/volume_2/ailanthus/altissima.htm
In Chico, CA, Ailanthus is fairly abundant. It was introduced during the Gold Rush, I believe. I lived near one very old grove in the foothills. I don't recall there being any general problem of green wood failure during the summer. Sometimes dead branches will pop out of their sockets. The wood is very light when it dries, and has a pith. The wood decays very rapidly. As far as wood strength goes, I found it to be fairly flexible and strong. It is a species that can be hard to eradicate, having a high regenerative rate from the root/stump. Girdling is a pretty effective technique. They can be quite beautiful, especially when new growth and seeds are reddish. They have a pleasing bark and structural form. The male trees give off a very pungent odor, disagreeable to many, when flowering. I think of them as oasis trees, because they persist it areas that are otherwise somewhat hot and dry in the summer, but where there are seeps. I wonder what places they do best in China. They are considered a pioneer species, and they have some allelopathic properties. They often come up around building foundations, perhaps because of concentrated runoff from the roofs. They tend to have fairly straight trunks with high, somewhat sparse branches. They are classed as shade intolerant.

Reply to post by Mike Beebe, on February 03, 2000 at 15:02:07:

Hi Mike. No A.a. specific input. But there was an earlier thread on SLD you might find interesting. I've linked it below.

Now there is a theory that some SLD may be caused by birds of prey. Roosting seems to be OK but when returning with the extra weight of a kill the same branch just won't take it. I hear there's a big research grant waiting to study this in more detail.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on February 03, 2000 at 15:02:07:

Scott… Can you elaborate on the birds of prey bit? I would like to refer a friend to that.
Mike… Frank Santamour at the Nat'l Arboretum for years has touted Ailanthus as having great urban street tree potential, and for sure it'll grow for years in the crack of a sidewalk! You might contact him.

Reply to post by Ed Milhous, on February 04, 2000 at 05:47:43:

Scott I too would like further information on the birds of prey theory or practice. Colin