Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

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Dave Brown
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Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by Dave Brown »

I have gales here in most months of the year and December 2013 is no exception. The difference with the 23rd December storm is the size of the storm and direction of the wind. As the storm was HUGE I ended up with southerly winds gusting up to 69.8mph for 24 hours :ahhh!: with the southerly winds blowing directly up the garden so there is little to filter it before it slams into the Washingtonia.

Washingtonia are quite wind proof and but damage normally occurs during the winter. The most common damage is broken leaflets or the fan gets split into segements right up to the hastula, causing the fan to collapse, but on this occasion (23/12/2013) the petiole was snapped with the leaf fan intact.

It takes considerable force to snap a petiole, so presume the leaf was bent down vertical by one gust, then caught by another violent gust before it was able to spring back up.
Attachments
2013-12-25 15-00-50 Washingtonia.jpg
2013-12-25 15-00-24 Washingtonia broken leaf.jpg
2013-12-25 15-00-34 Washingtonia broken petiole.jpg
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Dave
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The Codfather
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Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by The Codfather »

Its a good job you dont need to put up the brolley over it at the moment !!!!!
AKA - Martin

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fern Rob

Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by fern Rob »

I'm really surprised that it managed to do that.
kata

Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by kata »

Nature never fails to amaze!!

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Mr List

Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by Mr List »

I bet it has been slammed against a sticky out but on the trunk and snapped it that way.
very surprising either way.
Conifers
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Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by Conifers »

Just a leaf, that's not so bad then. When I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be the trunk that had snapped :roll:
Rob S

Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by Rob S »

Still looking an impressive plant!
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Dave Brown
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Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by Dave Brown »

Conifers wrote:Just a leaf, that's not so bad then. When I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be the trunk that had snapped :roll:
If the trunk had snapped the wall would have also gone, and rather than 23rd December Storm, they'd be calling it a category 5 :ahhh!:

Funny thing is.... the mildest winters it suffers as much damage as the coldest. Coldest = toasted, fried leaves, and Mildest = ripped off leaves :roll:

Here 2007 after the mildest winter of 2006/7
Attachments
2007 Washingtonia.jpg
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cordyman

Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by cordyman »

I was on the edge of my seat, expecting a trunk snap! Thankfully just a leaf, impressed wind force to snap it like that though icon_cheers
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eddie
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Re: Wind broke my Washingtonia 23/12/2013

Post by eddie »

Strange....the leaves look fairly intact

When mine get damaged by the wind, the leaves get torn apart making the tree look really messy. Never had a petiole broken like on yours
Washingtonia Trachycarpus Cordyline? Bamboos Olive tree? Bananas
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