Body Language of Trees: A Handbook for Failure Analysis

A rare book.

This book is dedicated to the potential hazards of trees. It shows the reader how a tree breaks, why it breaks, why perhaps it breaks too soon, and how it gives out a warning.

In most cases the tree gives out a silent sign in its body language. It draws attention to many types of potential fracture points by producing symptoms. This book introduces the reader to this body language, and teaches the reader how to interpret and evaluate these symptoms biomechanically.

This book provides new and needed information with diagrams. Readers should be able to understand the trees around them better, to recognise their warnings and to assess their safety more reliably. Foreword concerning tree biology; foreword concerning the mechanics of trees.

Part 1 Trees, people and biomechanics; people endanger trees - do trees endanger people?; man's responsibility towards trees; why do trees snap despite their optimal form?; manifestations of tree fractures; windthrow - falling without fracturing?; wind, roots and pipelines; recognising predictable tree failures - the principles; unpredictable tree fractures; safety factors in animals and trees; other diagnostic methods; tree assessment and legal judgements. 

Part 2 A practitioner's guide: mechanics - practical applications in arboriculture; a practical guide for tree inspection.