Unbalanced Crown
The growth of trees in
forest conditions usually results in them having long, straight,
trunks. However, open grown urban trees develop wider crowns
with lower branching. They often have irregular or unbalanced
crowns because of past damage, management practices, restricted
growing space, conflict with buildings, or a lack of light.
This can result in structural weakness and hazard problems.
If the tree crown is unbalanced, lopsided,
or developed as a flag, the tree would have an unbalanced
crown. A tree might have an unbalanced crown but straight
trunk or it can have both an unbalanced crown and a leaning
stem.
Three classes are established for
unbalanced crown.