– Trees fall. This not surprising. But do you know what to look for before they fall? This is especially important if you have trees around your home or other accessory structures you wish to protect.

Besides what we will discuss below, there is always the reason of inclement weather or the occasional crazy driver.

But use this guide on what to look out for on your tree to get an idea if it is in danger of falling or not.

1. FALLING BRANCHES: Your tree, depending on the species, will likely shed branches all year long. But branches that are about 10% of the girth of your tree should be able to stay put. If you notice large branches started to fall from you tree, it is a sign of structural weakness due to many reasons. This may only affect the branch, but it could be affecting the heartwood as well.
2. ROOTS: This is a tricky one as many roots are usually quite hidden, but if a tree is on an incline and you are starting to see below the topmost layer of roots, it is a sign of erosion and your tree may not be able to hold on when the next microburst comes around.
3. CUT ROOTS: Another root issue many people do not realize is that you should not cut roots that are inside the “drip line” of the a tree. This severly weakens a tree and can cause pre-mature death. So if you are cutting a path or driveway, if you have to cut the roots of a tree underneath its drip line, it is best to go ahead and remove it.
4. FUNGUS ON THE TRUNK: Fungus is usually only present on a tree that is dying. If you are noticing fungus around the base, there is a good chance the outer parts of the tree are already dead and it is a matter of time before the inner parts lose their strength.
5. LEANING FROM THE BASE: This one may seem obvious, but if you have a pretty straight tree and it is not perfectly verticle, it is starting to lose its grip. Especially take note of which way it is leaning. If it is towards your house or structure you do not want to get damaged, have it removed as soon as possible.
6. CRACKED OR BULGING GROUND: This one can play hand in hand with a leaning tree, but some trees are just crooked. If the ground underneath the tree looks like it is buckling or erosion is starting to take place under the roots, be sure to have it inspected. The weight of the tree leaning in one direction may be causing the roots to be begin to pull up.
7. LACK OF LEAVES OR PINE NEEDLES: These trees look obvious as they are not sprouting healthy leaves or needles. In fact, they can often look bare. But in some cases, you may not realize that half the tree looks perfectly healthy while the other half is struggling. Be sure to do a 360 inspection of your trees to spot any potential problems.
8. DISEASED OR DISCOLORED LEAVES: A whole other article can be written regarding the many reasons your leaves may not look as they should. This is especially important to look for if you have ornamental trees around your house. The use of pesticides or fungicides may be necessary to save your tree, but if all is lost, it may be best to have it removed.

In the end, if you have any questions, we would be glad to take a look. Tree damage is very costly, and except in the most artistic photos, is usually an eyesore. So it is best to take care of any potentials issues early. We hope you found the article useful. Take the time to learn more about the health of your trees.

If you would like us to review the state of your trees with you, we would be happy to come out and give a free estimate. If none of your trees deserve our tree removal service, we will let you know. Sometimes all you need is a good trimming.

Some references made from this article for the above information. Thank you for reading!