Large eucalyptus and pines are common in Pomona, CA, and both can become risky as they age. Eucalyptus can drop heavy limbs without warning, especially on hot, still summer afternoons. Pines decline after drought and bark beetle attack, and dead pines turn brittle fast. Warning signs include dead tops, cracks, heavy ends on long limbs, new lean, decay at the base and resin or boring dust on pine bark. Thinning can reduce risk on sound trees. Dead or badly decayed trees near homes should come out.
Why eucalyptus drop limbs
Summer branch drop is a well-known problem with eucalyptus and some other large trees. Limbs can break in hot, still weather, sometimes with no obvious defect. Long, horizontal limbs with heavy foliage at the ends are most at risk. Thinning and end-weight reduction help, but they cannot eliminate the risk entirely.
Eucalyptus warning signs
- Long, heavy limbs extending over roofs, driveways or play areas.
- Old wounds and cavities where limbs broke before.
- Cracks at branch unions.
- Bark peeling to show dark, wet patches that could indicate decay.
- Lean that is new or increasing.
Pine warning signs
- Fading needles, from green to yellow to red-brown.
- Pitch tubes or boring dust on the bark from bark beetles.
- Dead top, called a dead leader.
- Thin crown with fewer needles each season.
- Mushrooms at the base from root rot.
What can be done
- Thinning. Removing selected limbs throughout the canopy reduces wind load.
- End-weight reduction. Shortening long limbs back to strong side branches reduces leverage.
- Deadwood removal. Taking out dead limbs before they fall.
- Watering. Deep summer watering can help stressed pines recover if caught early.
- Removal. Dead pines, badly decayed eucalyptus and trees with serious cracks near homes should come down.
See tree trimming and tree removal.
Fire risk
Eucalyptus shed bark strips and leaves that pile up and burn hot. Pines have resinous needles. Keeping litter cleared, lifting limbs off roofs and removing dead trees near the house are key defensible space steps.
Removal of big trees
Large eucalyptus and pines near homes are usually taken down in sections, with limbs lowered on ropes. Wood from these species is not good indoor firewood, so most people have it hauled away. Stump grinding can follow.
When to call
If you see a crack, a dead top, a new lean or a large dead limb over a target, call for a closer look. A tree health assessment helps decide whether to prune or remove.
Nearby windbreaks
Many older properties in Pomona, Chino and La Verne still have eucalyptus windbreaks from the citrus era. Assess each tree individually rather than treating the whole row the same.
Living with big trees
A large, sound eucalyptus or pine can be a real asset, giving shade and screening that would take decades to replace. The goal is not to remove every big tree, but to know which ones carry real risk and to manage them. Keep people and parked cars out from under long limbs on hot, still summer afternoons, look at the tree after every big wind and have it checked by someone who knows the species every couple of seasons. Small, regular pruning is far cheaper than an emergency call.
Call (909) 479-2666 for an inspection.
Species notes
Red gum and blue gum eucalyptus are the most common large species in older Pomona yards, and both can grow very tall. Lemon-scented gum is lighter and often less risky. Among pines, Aleppo and Canary Island pines are the most common, and both suffer from drought stress.
Plan thinning with our pruning calendar, and see what removal costs. The UC IPM program has notes on bark beetles and eucalyptus pests.
Common questions
Why do eucalyptus trees drop limbs in summer?
Summer branch drop is a known pattern in eucalyptus and some other large trees, where limbs break on hot, still days, sometimes without obvious defects. Long, heavy horizontal limbs are most at risk. Thinning and end-weight reduction lower the risk but cannot eliminate it, so keep targets out from under big limbs.
Can a dying pine be saved?
If caught early, a stressed pine with only light beetle activity may recover with deep watering and deadwood removal. Once most of the needles have turned brown or the top has died, recovery is unlikely, and the tree becomes brittle. Dead pines near homes should be removed before they drop limbs.