How To Inspect Your Trees: Are They Safe?

Mature trees increase property value by as much as 10%, according to the U.S. Forest Service. But a tree can shift from asset to liability when branches, trunks or roots suffer injury and threaten to cause property or personal damage.

By inspecting trees and addressing potential problems, you can protect your home, save lives, and safeguard the investment that healthy trees add to your property. Not sure where to begin? Use our checklist to identify possible hazards in tree growth and development.

Branches

Potential hazards include:

Broken and dangling branches – including broken branches lodged in the canopy.

how to inspect your trees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead branches – easiest to spot during the growing season since leaves will be absent.

how to detect dead brances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches missing bark or growing fungus – both signal dead wood.

signs branches are missing bark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cracks where branches attach to trunk.

Cracks where branches attach to trunk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrow crotch angles where branches attach to trunk –weak and prone to breaking; common with Elm and Maple.

Narrow crotch angles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action to take:

  • Remove dead wood as soon as possible and at any time of year. 
  • Monitor branches you suspect are dead. 
  • Hire a certified arborist to remove large or dead branches located high within a tree canopy and to inspect trees with narrow crotch angles.

Trunk

Look for:

Cracks or cavities.

Cracks or cavities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oozing or bleeding.

Oozing or bleeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cankers (create missing or sunken bark).

Cankers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fungal growths along the trunk (indicate decay).

Fungal growths along the trun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple upright trunk stems with a tight V-shape at their juncture (U-shape is stronger).

Multiple upright trunk stems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action to take:

  • Consult with a certified arborist to determine tree health. Any of these symptoms can diminish a tree's stability. 
  • The exterior of a tree may appear fine except for a small crack, cavity or fungus, while the interior may be rotted, soft or even empty. An arborist has tools to inspect a trunk's interior.
  • Multiple upright trunk stems are prone to breaking. A certified arborist may suggest inserting cables to reinforce narrow crotch angles and prevent breaking.

Roots

There are two types of roots: anchoring and absorbing.

  • Anchoring roots are big, woody roots that literally support the tree. Some are visible above ground; some aren't. When anchoring roots are damaged, the tree can appear healthy with green leaves. It may lean – or not. But compromised anchors mean even a gentle wind or the weight of rainwater on leaves can topple the entire tree.
  • Absorbing roots are mostly invisible and absorb water and nutrients from soil. When absorbing roots are damaged, the problem usually manifests above ground as small or discolored leaves.

Look for these symptoms or causes of root problems:

Fungus or mushroom growth on anchoring roots, along the base of the trunk or on soil near the tree (fungal growth indicates decay).

Fungus and mushroom growth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cavities and hollows in visible anchoring roots.

Cavities and hollows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cracked or raised soil on one side of a tree trunk (could indicate the start of leaning).

Cracked and raised soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent construction or disturbance that has cut or crushed more than half of roots beneath a tree.

construction damage are signs of tree damage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excessive soil fill, or planting beds that are too deep (more than 2 inches), that can smother absorbing roots.

Excessive soil fill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action to take:

  • Consult with a certified arborist to determine tree health.

When To Inspect

Inspect trees annually, any time of year. Also make a quick inspection following severe storms.