A tree rarely falls without warning, and knowing what to look for lets you deal with a problem on your schedule instead of the storm's.
Signs to Watch For
- Dead branches, especially large ones or dead wood in the top of the tree.
- Hangers. Broken limbs lodged in the canopy can drop at any time.
- Cracks or splits in the trunk or where large limbs join.
- Weak forks. Tight, V-shaped unions with bark pinched between the stems are prone to splitting.
- Mushrooms or shelf-like fungi on the trunk or at the base. These are signs of decay inside.
- Cavities and soft wood. Hollow spots, crumbly wood or sawdust piles at the base.
- A new or worsening lean, especially with cracked or heaving soil on the side opposite the lean.
- Root damage from trenching, paving, construction or grade changes in the past few years.
- A dying top, with bare branches at the crown while the lower canopy still has leaves.
- Bark falling off with no new growth underneath.
- Heavy woodpecker or carpenter ant activity concentrated in one spot, which often points to insects or decay.
- Sudden leaf loss, or leaves browning out of season across the whole tree.
Species Red Flags in Virginia
- Dead or dying ash. Trees killed by emerald ash borer become brittle quickly and can drop large limbs without warning.
- Pines turning yellow or red all at once. Often a sign of bark beetles. Dead pines near homes should come down promptly.
- Older water oaks and laurel oaks. They're prone to hidden trunk decay as they age.
- Willow oaks dropping large limbs. One failure often means more are coming.
- Bradford and other Callery pears. Their tight branch structure makes them split apart as they mature.
Think About What's Underneath
A defective tree in the back of a wooded lot is a small concern. The same tree over your bedroom, driveway, a play set or a neighbor's roof is a different story. Pay the most attention to trees that could reach something you care about if they fell.
A Simple Walk-Around Checklist
Do this once a season and after every major storm.
- Look at the whole tree from a distance. Is the canopy full and even, or thin and patchy? Is it leaning more than last time?
- Scan the top. Look for dead branches and broken limbs hanging in the canopy.
- Check the main limbs. Look for cracks, weak forks and limbs growing over the house.
- Walk around the trunk. Look for cavities, cracks, fungi, oozing or missing bark.
- Look at the base and roots. Watch for mushrooms, soft wood, cut or damaged roots and soil lifting on one side.
- Compare to last year. A photo from the same spot each spring makes gradual changes easy to see.
What to Do Next
Many problems can be fixed with pruning, like removing dead wood, reducing a heavy limb or clearing branches from the roof. Others mean the tree should come down before it falls on its own. A professional can tell you which you're looking at.
- Learn about our tree trimming for dead wood and problem limbs.
- Learn about our tree removal for trees that can't be saved.
- For trees touching power lines, call your power company first.