How To Identify Hazard Trees

The trees that surround us are essential for comfort and life. They produce much of the oxygen that we need to breathe and they do other things too such as providing shade, wind protection and beautifying landscapes. When you take a close look at how each tree functions you realize they are truly a gift from God.

At some point in their growth, trees may lose some of their appeal. They can become ill, unsightly and pose a threat to both people and property. When an individual tree gets to this point it no longer benefits its owner but then becomes a liability. Sometimes tree weaknesses are not obvious and only become exposed after an event such as a strong storm.

It does not take a trained arborist to spot the more obvious signs that a tree has the potential to become a hazard. Here are some of those signs:

• A tree is growing or leaning in an unnatural way
• A tree’s canopy has voids and sparse areas and several dying or dead branches
• A tree has a trunk with signs of obvious decay or large cracks
• A tree that has multiple trunks is more apt to split apart in a storm
• Loose or buckling soil at the base of a tree can indicate a root problem
• Fungi or Mushrooms growing at the base of a tree are often a sign of tree decay