How to Spot Hazardous Trees

In most cases, trees provide beauty and shade around our property. But there may come a time when one of those trees is set to fall and can cause property damage, or worse, bodily harm. That is why it is wise to be able to identify visible signs that a tree may become a hazard before it happens. Here are a few things to look for:

Dead Wood

Dead wood is one of the most serious concerns and must be attended to immediately. It is unpredictable, and can come down at any time. You can identify dead wood by its dry and brittle appearance. It also doesn't bend in the wind like healthy wood. Dead branches that are already broken, also referred to as "hangers" or "widow makers," are especially dangerous.

Cankers

A tree canker is not unlike the canker sores people get in their mouth. It is an area on the stem or branch of a tree where the bark is sunken or missing. If you see a canker, this increases the chance of the stem breaking in that area. A tree with a canker that encompasses more than half of the tree's circumference is hazardous, even if the underlying exposed wood looks healthy.

You should take action if one or more cankers affect more than half of the tree's circumference. You need to also take action if a canker is connected to a crack or other defect, weak branch union, or cavity.

Cracks

If you see cracks that may extend from the bark into the wood, this poses a danger as well. You should take action if you see multiple deep cracks in the same area of the wood, if the branch in question is big enough to cause injury, or if a crack is leading towards another defect in the tree.

Weak Branch Unions

A branch union refers to the area where two or more branches connect to the tree. The branches are usually similar in size and upright. Bark grows between the branches and inside the union. Since bark is, of course, weaker than wood, the support is weaker. Contact a tree removal company if you notice a crack in a weak branch union.

Decay

A tree usually decays from the inside out, leaving a cavity inside. And while decay can be a hazard, that alone isn't a sign of a hazardous tree. In these cases, it is usually wise to have a trained arborists examine the tree to see if it is dangerous. If advanced decay is also associated with other defective parts of a tree, take action sooner than later.

Additional Hazards

Other things that you need to be concerned with are root problems and poor tree architecture. For instance, if you notice a tree leaning with root exposure, this may foretell a tree falling.

Poor architecture refers to a tree's growth pattern that may indicate a structural imbalance. While a leaning tree may pose a danger, that is not always going to be the case. Again, it is best to consult a professional arborist if you have any doubts.

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