After every summer thunderstorm in the Roanoke Valley, we get the same calls: a tree down across a driveway, a limb through a porch roof, an oak split in half over the back yard. Almost every one of those trees showed signs of trouble beforehand. Here's what to look for.
1. Dead branches in the crown. A few dead twigs are normal. Large dead limbs — especially high up, where they can drop without warning — are not. If a third or more of the crown is bare in summer, the tree is in serious decline.
2. A new or growing lean. Many trees grow at an angle and are perfectly stable. What matters is change: a tree that has started leaning recently, or soil heaving and cracking on the side opposite the lean, means the roots are failing.
3. Cracks and splits in the trunk. Deep vertical cracks, or a trunk that splits into two main stems with a crack or seam between them, are weak points that tend to fail in wind.
4. Fungus at the base. Mushrooms or shelf fungus growing on the trunk or roots usually mean rot inside. By the time you see it outside, the decay has often been working for years.
5. Hollow or soft wood. Tap the trunk. A hollow sound, soft wood you can push a screwdriver into, or cavities where the heartwood is gone mean the tree has lost much of its strength.
6. Root damage. Trenching for a driveway, a new patio or a utility line can cut through a tree's roots on one side. The tree may look fine for a year or two, then start to decline or lean.
7. It's simply too close. A healthy tree that is growing into the roof, over the power line or against the foundation will only get closer. Taking it down on your schedule is cheaper and safer than dealing with it after a storm.
If you see any of these, have the tree looked at. Green Boss gives free estimates on tree removal across Roanoke, Salem, Daleville, Cloverdale and the rest of the valley — call (540) 729-0859. We take trees down safely, haul the wood and brush away, and leave the yard clean.