Trees are great, but a distressed one close to your house can fall and cause damage or injuries if you don’t identify its signs and have it removed before it happens. Below are some signs that a tree is about to fall, and you should consider calling in tree removal companies.

Signs A Tree Can Fall On Your House

Leaning

Although a leaning tree is not always a sign of trouble, it usually is a safety hazard. Mostly, a leaning tree is due to a disease, trunk damage, root damage, or any other significant problem. And if the lean keeps increasing or is more than 45 degrees, it’s most probably about to fall, so consult a tree expert immediately.

If you want to ensure that the lean is a safety hazard, not a natural lean, look for these things:

• Is the lean recent or has it been there for a long time? Recent leans are dangerous.
• Is there trunk damage such as cracks, holes, splits or infestation? Trunk problems are a red flag.
• What’s the angle of the lean? An angle of more than 45 degrees is a hazard.
• Can you see soil or root lifting on the opposite side of the lean? Soil or root lifting means the tree can fall.
• Is there a house, power lines, or a street in the direction of the lean? If yes, then consult an expert ASAP.

Cracks In The Trunk

Trunk cracks can pose a risk to the stability of a tree, so you should be concerned if there are unusual cracks on the trunk. Cracks show structural weakness of the tree, and it’s possible that the tree can no longer support its weight and may topple. Moreover, cracks can act as an entryway for pests and microbes, leading to infestations and diseases.

Cracks in the trunk can occur over time or due to an external factor, like a storm, an animal damaging the trunk, or a pest infestation.

Some trunk cracks can be minor and not a concern, like shallow cracks that don’t expose the inner layer of the bark and small vertical fissures. If the tree leaves and branches are healthy and there is no rotting wood around the crack, it’s not a hazard.

However, if there are deep cracks in the trunk, there is sap, fungus, or anything oozing from the cracks, or rot or decay around the crack, then it’s a safety hazard and an expert is required to assess the tree’s health and remove it.

Decaying Roots

Roots are the structural support of trees. If they show signs of decay or damage, the tree may topple very soon, and if it’s near your house, it can fall on the house. Root damage and leaning are two things that can occur together because tree root problems usually trigger leaning, which is very dangerous.

Mushrooms near the base and roots of the tree are a common indicator of decaying roots. Another sign is exposed roots and the soil under the tree sounding hollow when tapped using a stick. Plus, look for reduced leaf growth or smaller leaves. There can also be cracks or oozing near the base of the tree.

The cause of root decay or damage could be natural, such as the age of the tree or anything external, like a storm, drought, flooding, soil compaction, diseases, or others.

Fungal Growth Near The Base Of The Tree

Fungal growth is a sign of root decay. However, it can also be a sign of any other issue, such as excessive moisture in the soil, cracks or wounds, compacted soil, etc. In any case, it means the tree is distressed. So, look for other visible signs as well like cracks on the trunk, tree wounds, or root damage, and consider tree removal by calling in emergency tree services Kensington.

An Increase In Falling Branches

Healthy trees shed branches over time, while distressed trees shed branches more frequently. So, if you notice that the tree is shedding branches too frequently than before, it may be diseased or damaged. A sign of trouble is an increase in shedding branches after a storm because this shows the tree was damaged during the storm and requires attention, otherwise, it may fall.

Furthermore, you should also inspect the tree to see if the shedding of the branches is normal or not. Look for decay, rot, wounds, cracks, leaning, fungus, or pests. If you see any of these things, the tree could be hazardous and you should have it removed before it falls on the property or injure someone.

Soft Spots

Soft spots on the tree trunk or on major limbs are an indication of a problem. It can be a pest infestation or a disease affecting and weakening the tree. There can also be other factors like storm damage, recent construction, lawnmower damage, or animals damaging the tree, which lead to cracks and then pests sneak into the tree through these openings, and cause rot and decay.

So, if there are soft spots, especially on the trunk, it can be dangerous because it can trigger a structural failure anytime. The tree could fall on the nearby house, yard, or walkway. So, involve an arborist for inspecting or safely removing the tree.

Storm Damage

This is an obvious one. Strong winds, hailstorms, or lightning can wreak havoc on trees, especially if they are already distressed. So, inspecting a tree after a storm is critical to ensure safety.

If you see a lot of fallen branches, cracks in the trunk, splitting trunk or branches, or leaning after a storm, it’s a sign the storm did damage the tree and it’s now dangerous to leave the tree as it is.

Even if the tree survives, the broken branches that haven’t fallen yet can still cause a lot of damage to the nearby house or yard. So, an inspection is important. If the tree is still healthy, the expert may only prune the tree, but if the damage is significant, they will suggest removing the tree.

Heavy Rain or Days Of Rainfall

Storms are associated with toppling trees, but excessive rainfall can cause it too. Heavy rain or consecutive days of rainfall can lead to supersaturated soil that becomes too soft to stabilize the tree and its roots. So, the tree could begin leaning and fall.

If you walk on the soil near the tree and your feet sink into the soil, the tree could fall. Therefore, don’t ignore this sign and consult an expert.

The Tree Is Very Close To The House

A tree in close proximity to your house, less than 15 to 20 feet away, can cause many problems. The roots can damage the house’s foundation, there is a higher risk of the branches falling on the house, leading to damage, and leaves clogging the gutters, creating drainage issues. And if the tree is distressed, it’s a huge safety risk.

So, if your tree is in a very close proximity to your house, always be proactive when it comes to tree care and inspections, so you spot problems early on and either fix them or remove the tree if required.

Conclusion

Distressed or diseased trees can topple, so look for these signs to know if the tree is stable or is it a safety risk. If you notice any of these signs, contact tree cutting services Chevy Chase for tree removal.