Key takeaways
- No sign guarantees failure, and no tree can be called safe from a distance.
- Look at the trunk, the base, the roots, the crown and what is under the tree.
- Past damage matters: topping, trenching, paving and storm wounds.
- Trees over homes, play areas and wires deserve earlier attention.
- After a big wind or heavy snow, look again.
Tree failure is hard to predict, and no checklist is a guarantee. What we can do is name the signs arborists look for so you know when to call. Battle Born Tree Service has certified arborists who assess trees before work begins.
What do cracks and decay look like?
Look for vertical cracks, splits where two stems join, hollow areas, missing bark and fungus at the base or on the trunk. Decay inside a trunk is often hidden, so a tree can look healthy from the outside and still be weak.
An arborist can inspect these spots with tools and experience. A big crack that opens and closes in wind is a reason to keep people away.
What do roots and soil tell you?
Heaved or cracked soil near the base, roots lifted out of the ground, and roots cut by digging or paving are signs the tree's anchor is damaged. Root damage can happen years before the tree shows it in the crown.
Look at what has changed near the tree: a trench, a new patio, a grade change or a burst irrigation line.
- Soil mounded or cracked at the base.
- Roots cut, lifted or exposed.
- Recent digging, paving or grade change.
- Water pooling or soil staying soft.
What do the crown and limbs show?
Dead branches, large limbs that cross or rub, one-sided growth and a thin crown can all be signs of trouble. Limbs hanging in the tree are especially risky. Our guide on hanging limbs covers that.
Topping and shaping can make this worse. NV Energy's brochure says shaped trees regrow with weakly attached vertical suckers that break off in moderate winds, and the ISA says topping leaves stubs that open the way for decay.
When does failure risk matter most?
When something valuable is in the way: a house, a car, a play area, a sidewalk, a wire. A tree with the same defect in an open field is a different risk than one over a roof.
Wind and heavy wet snow load a crown and can finish what a defect started. See heavy snow and broken limbs and preparing trees for wind.
What can an arborist do about a tree with these signs?
The options include pruning dead wood, reducing weight, cabling and bracing a sound tree with a weak union, or removing a tree that is too far gone. A certified arborist can explain which fits.
Battle Born offers dead wooding, cabling and bracing, pruning and removal, and estimates are free. Never climb or cut overhead yourself.
What should you not do about a tree with warning signs?
Do not cut it yourself, do not lean a ladder on it, and do not try to pull, prop or tie it. People are hurt when a damaged tree moves while they are under it or in it.
Keep people and cars out of the area where it could land and have it assessed. If it is touching a wire, stay away and call NV Energy. The first hour checklist covers what to do if it has already come down.
Sources
- NC State Extension (Caswell County): Is My Tree Dying? (read October 17, 2026)
- International Society of Arboriculture: Why Topping Hurts Trees (brochure) (read October 17, 2026 (municipal copy of the ISA brochure))
- NV Energy: A Tree on Your Property (Tree Pruning Explained brochure, rev. 2017-05) (read October 17, 2026)