7 Signs a Tree Needs to Come Down

Homeowners usually call us about how a tree looks. We look at how a tree is holding itself up. Those are two different questions, and the second one is the one that matters for safety.

1. A lean that changed recently. Trees that grew leaning are often fine. A lean that appeared after a storm, especially with soil heaved on the opposite side, is a root-plate failure and it is urgent.

2. Mushrooms or conks at the base. Fungal fruiting bodies at the trunk flare usually mean interior decay in the structural wood.

3. Deep vertical cracks or seams in the trunk, especially where two big stems meet.

4. A canopy that leafs out thin, late, or only on one side — often the first visible sign of root damage or disease.

5. Included bark in a tight V-shaped union. Those unions split, and they split under load in wind.

6. Large deadwood over a target. Dead limbs above a roof, driveway, or play area are a scheduled problem, not a maybe.

7. Roots cut by construction, trenching, or a new driveway within the last few years. Trees can take years to show that damage, then fail suddenly.

If you see any of these, get eyes on it. We give free assessments across Sacramento and the surrounding areas, and we'll tell you when a tree can be saved with pruning instead of removed.