Key takeaways
- Dead, brittle branches and mushrooms or fungi on the trunk can point to decay.
- A sudden lean or soil heaving at the base can mean the roots are failing.
- Check trees after storms, and keep people away from anything that looks unstable.
Warning signs to look for
Dead or dying branches
Brittle, leafless limbs can drop without warning, especially in wind. Dead wood high in the canopy over a path, driveway or roof is worth dealing with sooner rather than later.
Cracks, splits and weak joins
Deep cracks in the trunk or main branches, and tight V-shaped forks where two stems meet, are common weak points that can fail in strong wind.
Fungi and decay
Mushrooms or bracket fungi on the trunk or at the base, soft or crumbly wood, and cavities can all point to decay inside the tree.
A new lean or lifting soil
Some trees always lean. A tree that starts leaning, or soil cracking and lifting around its base, may be losing its grip in the ground.
Root damage
Digging, trenching, driveways and building work near a tree can damage its roots. Problems sometimes take a few years to show.
Thinning canopy
Fewer leaves than usual or dieback at the top of the tree can be a sign it's under stress.
What to do
- Keep people, pets and cars away from anything that looks like it could fall.
- Check your trees after storms and strong winds.
- Don't climb or cut a damaged tree yourself. Broken branches under tension can move unexpectedly.
- If a tree is near power lines, stay well clear and contact Vector.
- Check whether the tree is protected before any removal. Here's how.
Getting it checked
For an obvious problem like a dead branch or a small tree that needs to go, I can sort it. For a large tree with signs of decay, cracking or root failure, a qualified arborist should assess it, and I'll tell you honestly if that's the case.