It’s hard to overstate the value trees provide. They offer shade in the summer, absorb runoff water after heavy rains, provide privacy from nosy neighbors, and reduce the amount of road noise near your home. They also help to clean the air, provide resources for wildlife, and improve the curb appeal of your property.
But trees can also present risks in some cases. Strong winds may blow a tree over onto your house or drop a dead branch onto your car. So, it’s important to balance the relative benefits and risks your specific trees are providing.
The problem is that few homeowners know how to distinguish potentially hazardous trees from those that are likely stable, structurally sound, and safe. We’ll try to help by sharing some of the signs of potential trouble, so you’ll know when to get help from a tree-service pro.
Seven Signs That Your Oklahoma Tree Is Dangerous: Troubling Clues and Symptoms
It’s important to note that some trees may fall over or drop large branches with no warning at all. So, it’s always wise to have a professional arborist inspect your trees regularly for signs of trouble. It’s also worth pointing out that even trees that have troubling signs may sometimes remain standing for years or decades.
Nevertheless, the following signs should prompt you to reach out for a professional inspection by a tree-care expert, like those on the Elion Landscaping & Tree Service team.
1. The tree has developed a sudden lean.
Before explaining this potential sign of danger, let’s be clear: Many trees grow at an angle without presenting any increased risk.
This is often the result of something called phototropism — the tendency for plants to grow toward sunlight. But phototropic leans (as they’re called) develop gradually, over years or decades, which allows the tree to put on response growth that keeps it safe.
On the other hand, trees that start leaning suddenly are almost always very dangerous. A sudden lean often indicates that the tree’s roots or the soil itself has become compromised. In fact, you may even notice the soil on the opposite side of the tree rising above ground level.
If you notice your tree leaning suddenly or the ground around the tree heaving, keep everyone away from it and call a tree-care professional immediately.
2. Mushrooms or conks are growing on or near the tree.
One of the biggest threats to the structural integrity of a tree is decay. Decay occurs when fungi (or some other microorganisms) feed on the tree’s wood, reducing its strength considerably.
Most of this goes on beneath the surface, and there are often no outward signs that a tree is slowly starting to become weaker and weaker each day. The only exception is when the fungi’s fruiting structures — mushrooms or conks — penetrate the surface of the wood and become visible.
Some fungi attack a tree’s living tissues, which can cause even a healthy-looking tree to become hazardous. But other fungi only consume already-dead wood and typically progress slower. But in either case, you’ll want to reach out to a tree-care professional anytime you see mushrooms or other fungal activity on your trees.
And because a tree’s roots are also susceptible to fungal decay, you should also get expert guidance anytime you see mushrooms growing around your tree.
3. The tree’s trunk or primary branches are cracked.
Cracks are a serious concern that always warrants an inspection by a tree-care professional. Unlike some of the other clues presented here, which indicate that a tree may fail in the future, a crack indicates that a tree is already failing.
Even more troubling, many cracks go unnoticed until a branch or entire tree comes crashing down. So, be sure to examine your tree regularly and look for cracks. Minor cracks can be hard to spot without an up-close inspection, but others can be wide enough to allow light to shine through from the other side.
It’s also worth noting that some cracks are more dangerous than others. For example, while cracks along the axis of a branch or tree (parallel with the wood grain) can be dangerous, horizontal cracks (perpendicular to the wood grain) are exceptionally hazardous and require immediate action.
4. The tree has a cavity (of any size).
Tree hollows and cavities are a potential sign of advanced decay, and they should always be assessed by a tree-care expert.
Not all cavities indicate widespread instability; woodpeckers occasionally construct nests in healthy trees, where no decay is present. However, cavities that are associated with decay fungi may be a sign that large sections of the tree’s wood have become compromised.
But even if a tree is not harboring fungi, the presence of a cavity means that it isn’t being fully supported. And because some cavities may extend a considerable distance up and down the trunk, it’s easy to see why all cavities should be taken very seriously.
Generally speaking, larger cavities are more concerning than smaller cavities. However, even a small cavity may be associated with a significant decay column.
5. The tree has narrow, V-shaped branch unions.
The manner in which a tree branch attaches to the trunk or its parent branch is very important for determining its stability and the overall strength of the union. Ideally, you want your branches to have very wide angles or around 90 degrees.
This is because tree branches increase in both length and width, and branches attach to each other best when the actual wood fibers (as opposed to the bark) attach directly to each other. But narrow, V-shaped branch unions prevent this from happening. Often, bark develops between the branch junctions, creating a weak spot that is susceptible to splitting.
This can also occur when trees have “twin” trunks (something arborists call co-dominant stems or co-dominant leaders). This is similarly dangerous, and because it often means the weak spot is under great strain, these situations are even more dangerous.
6. The tree has large dead branches.
Tree branches can die for a variety of reasons, ranging from pests to disease to mechanical injury. But other branches die because they simply become shaded by other branches growing above them.
But no matter the reason a tree branch dies, it will start to decay shortly thereafter. This means that it’ll be more likely to fall off the tree, as happens in forest trees all the time. So, it’s always wise to have dead limbs removed from trees before they can fall and cause injuries or property damage.
Be sure to check your trees regularly for signs of dead branches. And don’t forget to look high in the canopy, either. Dead branches growing in the upper portions of the canopy are actually the most dangerous, as they’ll have more time to fall — and therefore gain speed — on their way to the ground.
7. Your tree has shed branches in the past.
Unfortunately, trees that have shed branches in the past are more likely to shed additional branches in the future.
In some cases, this occurs because the branches were diseased or infested with insects. As time goes on, the pests or disease spread, attack other branches, and cause them to fall. But in other situations, it may be related to internal decay, which may progress throughout the tree over time.
But shed branches can also be associated with something known as “sudden limb drop.” This is a phenomenon (that is especially common in oaks, sweetgums, and a few other species), in which a large tree sheds large branches for seemingly no reason — often on a calm, sunny day.
What Should You Do When Faced with a Dangerous Tree in Oklahoma?
If you notice any signs indicating that one or more of your trees are potentially hazardous, you’ll want to start by limiting the damage they can cause. Keep your family away from the tree and contact a professional arborist immediately.
Once the tree-care team arrives, you can allow them to assess the tree and make a determination about the tree’s future. They may recommend you have the tree removed, but in other cases, they’ll find that the tree is not presenting a hazard and may be allowed to remain where it is.
Hazardous Tree Signs: FAQ
Have more questions about the signs of a dangerous tree? Want to learn more to help keep your home and family safe? We’ve rounded up a few of the most common questions we hear from our clients and answered them below.
How can you tell if a tree is hazardous?
It isn’t always possible for a homeowner to determine for certain whether or not a tree is hazardous — that usually requires the help of a professional arborist. But there are a number of signs you can look for, including a sudden lean, large cracks or hollows, or mushrooms growing near the tree, which may signal trouble.
What types of trees are hazardous?
Any kind of tree can be hazardous, but the most concerning trees are either dead, significantly decayed, or held up by compromised root systems.
Does homeowners’ insurance cover dangerous tree removal?
Generally, no — hazard tree removal is usually considered normal maintenance. But it is still important to have hazardous trees removed. If the tree falls and your insurance provider learns that you were informed it was hazardous but didn’t have it removed, the company may refuse to cover the damage it caused.
Trust Oklahoma’s Tree-Care Professionals: Elion Landscaping & Tree Service
It’s always important to get professional eyes on your trees anytime you think they may be hazardous. We’ll be happy to send a professional arborist to your property to assess your trees and determine how dangerous they may or may not be. And if your trees do appear to be hazardous, we can provide the pruning or removal services you need to keep your home and family safe.
Make an appointment now and enjoy the peace of mind that only Elion Landscaping & Tree Service can provide.
Sources and References
- International Society of Arboriculture. Recognizing Tree Risk. ISA / Trees Are Good.
https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Recognizing%20Tree%20Risk_0721.pdf - The Arbor Day Foundation. “Look Out: Detecting and Preventing Hazardous Trees.” Perspectives, Arbor Day Foundation.
https://www.arborday.org/perspectives/look-out-detecting-and-preventing-hazardous-trees - Schnelle, Mike A.; Eric J. Rebek. “Managing Storm-Damaged Trees.” Fact Sheet EPP-7323, Oklahoma State University Extension, 2017.
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/managing-storm-damaged-trees.html
