Trees are a great asset to any property. However, they do come with certain risks. Falling trees pose a risk of causing damage to your home, car, or even your loved ones. Although healthy trees can fall due to strong storms, you need to prevent damage caused by stress by learning how to identify if they are dying and will fall down soon.
When trees become unhealthy or get stressed, they tend to shed large branches or even fall over. This poses a high risk of damaging property and even hurting unsuspecting people. Once you identify that a particular tree’s health has been compromised, you need to hire a professional tree services company to remove it or prune it before it causes any damage. Here are a few signs to identify trees that are in danger of falling over.
Leaning Trunk
Once a tree starts leaning forward more than 15 degrees, it is a clear indication of a problem with its root system. Trees naturally tend to lean towards sunlight. However, if any tree on your property seems to be leaning more than 15 degrees, you need to examine it properly. Although trees do lean naturally, damaged trees start leaning suddenly rather than gradually. You can check whether the roots are unstable by looking at the ground just behind the angle of the lean and check whether it has risen up. In case, the tree is growing naturally with a lean, the ground would not have risen, indicating a strong root system.
Dead or Falling Branches
An unhealthy tree often starts shedding its branches in an effort to conserve its resources. While dead branches can fall due to winds, it can still cause the entire tree to topple over. However, this does not mean that dead branches on a tree indicate that it is going to fall over soon. It is, however, a clue to the current health situation of the tree. If you start noticing dead branches, you need to take a closer look at your tree.
Dead Leaves Farthest from the Trunk
In case you start to find dead leaves on the outside part of the branches as well as yellow leaves on the inside part of the branches, your tree might be in trouble. This condition is a clear indication that your tree has a root problem, making it difficult for the tree to survive as well as stay upright for very long. In case the tree is damaged to a great extent, it might be time to consider an arborist for tree removal to avoid any damage to your property. The experts will help remove the diseased tree from your property without affecting any of the other plants or trees nearby.
Hole in the Trunk
When a tree sheds its branch to self-prune, it causes a hole to form in the trunk. Although this is not a signal that your tree will collapse soon, it is still a good idea to get a tree professional to take a look at it. A hole in the trunk is not a problem as long as there is solid, healthy wood around the opening.
Rotting Roots
Since the roots of trees are responsible for holding it upright, rotting roots can be a huge problem. In order to check whether the roots of a tree are rotting, you will need to be on the lookout for certain signs. Mushrooms growing at the base of the tree, thinning canopy, fungi on the trunk, and smaller leaves than usual are signs to look out for.
V-Shaped Branch Growth
Branches on a tree grow at a fair distance from each other which allows it to develop naturally. This often results in a u-shape branch formation. When the branches start growing too close to one another, it causes a V-shape formation. You can easily spot the V-shape branch formation during fall or winter when the tree is in its hibernation period. A V-shape branch formation can spell disaster for the tree as well as property around it if not checked immediately.
Missing Bark
If your tree has patches of missing bark, also known as cankers, it is a good idea to have the tree seen by an arborist. Cankers are often a clear sign that your tree may be dying. Sometimes, cankers are also accompanied by deep cracks in the trunk. They can make the tree weak and make it prone to falling over any instance. It is better to have it taken care of as soon as possible.
At the end of the day, you need to keep a close watch on your trees. This helps to make sure that they are in the best of their health and will not be toppling over anytime soon.
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