There have been several instances when I was out talking to a customer that had on their property a codominant tree. In almost every instance when mentioning the codominant, most home owners were not aware that this was a description of the structure of their tree. According to the International Society of Arboriculture a codominant stem is any stem that is fifty percent or more of the diameter of the parent stem. Often times this is a structural flaw of the tree during its growth. It may be considered a flaw when there is included bark between the two codominant stems, thereby weakening the branch collar even more. Does this mean the tree should be removed? Not necessarily, it depends on many variables as to whether or not the codominant stem is a mitigating hazard to personal property, or could cause harm to an individual.

There are various ways that the hazard can be corrected, such as proper tree trimming & tree pruning. However, it may be that one of the codominant stems will need to be removed. This is up to the homeowner, and the consulting arborist assessing the risk of the tree. Do keep in mind that the larger the codominant, the greater the risk. Keeping the tree properly pruned by removing dead, declining growth, as well as water sprouts will not only benefit the health of the tree, but can also reduce the risk of the tree breaking at the branch collar.

If you have a tree that fits this description, and may be concerned about harm it could potentially cause, call the experts at Action Tree Care. We will come out, take a look, give you an honest appraisal, and a free estimate to correct the tree or trees in question.