Check Your Trees Before Severe Weather Arrives
Strong winds, heavy rain and saturated soil can expose weaknesses in trees that previously appeared stable. A damaged limb or weakened root system may hold up under normal conditions but fail when severe weather reaches Richmond and Central Virginia.
Examining your trees before the next storm can help you identify obvious warning signs and address potential hazards before they threaten your home, vehicles or surrounding property. However, a visual inspection from the ground cannot uncover every defect. If something looks questionable, have the tree evaluated by an experienced arborist.
Warning Signs of a Dangerous Tree
1. Dead or Hanging Branches
Dead branches are among the easiest tree hazards to recognize. They may have no leaves during the growing season, missing bark or brittle wood. You may also notice broken limbs hanging in the canopy or resting on other branches.
These limbs can fall without much warning, especially when exposed to strong winds or heavy rain. Pay particular attention to dead branches located above:
- Houses and garages
- Driveways and parked vehicles
- Sidewalks and play areas
- Outdoor seating areas
- Business entrances and parking lots
Professional tree trimming and pruning can remove hazardous limbs while preserving the healthy portions of the tree.
2. Cracks or Splits in the Trunk
Look for deep cracks running through the trunk or large supporting limbs. A small surface crack is not always a serious problem, but an expanding split or one extending into the wood may indicate structural weakness.
Trees with multiple trunks can develop cracks where the stems join. When wind moves the canopy in different directions, that weak connection may separate. Cracks accompanied by decay, hollow areas or hanging bark deserve prompt professional attention.
3. A New or Increasing Lean
Some trees naturally grow at an angle and remain stable for decades. A tree that recently began leaning—or is leaning farther than it previously did—is more concerning.
Warning signs around a leaning tree can include:
- Raised or cracked soil near the roots
- Exposed or broken roots
- A widening gap around the base
- The canopy shifting toward a house or driveway
- A lean that appeared after heavy rain or another storm
A sudden lean can indicate that the root system is losing its hold in the soil. Keep people and vehicles away from the potential fall area and request an inspection as soon as possible.
4. Root Damage or Movement Around the Base
A tree depends on its roots for both stability and access to water and nutrients. Root damage can occur because of construction, trenching, driveway installation, soil compaction, erosion or repeated vehicle traffic.
Walk around the tree and look for cut roots, disturbed soil or lifting ground. Mushrooms growing around the trunk may sometimes be associated with underground decay, although mushrooms alone do not prove a tree is dangerous.
Because much of the root system is hidden, an arborist may need to examine the site and the tree’s overall condition.
5. Cavities, Decay or Missing Bark
Holes and hollow areas can develop after an injury, broken branch or old pruning wound. Some trees can remain standing with cavities, while others lose important structural strength.
Watch for the following warning signs:
- Large cavities in the trunk
- Soft, crumbling or discolored wood
- Loose or missing bark
- Moist areas or fluid leaking from the trunk
- Fungal growth around the trunk or roots
- Insect activity around damaged wood
The size and location of the defect matter. Avoid poking, cutting or climbing the tree to investigate it yourself.
6. A Thinning or Dying Canopy
A declining canopy can indicate that a tree is experiencing disease, pest activity, root problems or environmental stress. Warning signs include unusually small leaves, bare upper branches, premature leaf drop and sections of the canopy dying back.
The International Society of Arboriculture identifies crown dieback, smaller leaves and premature fall color as possible signs of decline. Learn more through the ISA’s tree risk and hazard guidance.
Not every declining tree requires removal. Depending on the cause and severity, pruning, plant health care or another corrective service may help preserve it.
7. Weak Branch Connections or Multiple Trunks
Branches with narrow, V-shaped connections can be more prone to splitting than branches with stronger, wider attachments. Bark trapped between two competing trunks may prevent a strong wood connection from developing.
An arborist may recommend selective pruning to reduce weight or tree cabling and bracing to support an important tree with a manageable structural weakness. These systems must be properly selected, installed and periodically inspected.
8. Branches Touching Your House or Near Power Lines
Branches rubbing against a roof, siding or chimney can damage the tree and the building. Overextended limbs above a house may also cause substantial damage if they fail during a storm.
Never attempt to prune a tree near electrical lines. Keep a safe distance and contact the utility company when electrical equipment is involved. Review the federal government’s thunderstorm and lightning safety guidance before severe weather arrives.
9. Previous Storm or Lightning Damage
A tree that survived an earlier storm may still have hidden or unfinished damage. Broken limbs, torn branch attachments and trunk injuries can weaken the tree and allow decay to develop over time.
Look closely at trees that have previously lost large limbs, been struck by lightning or shifted in the ground. Even if the tree remained standing, another storm could place additional stress on the damaged area.
Can a Dangerous Tree Be Saved?
Finding a warning sign does not automatically mean the entire tree must be removed. Depending on its condition and location, an arborist may recommend:
- Removing dead or damaged branches
- Reducing the weight of overextended limbs
- Installing a cabling or bracing system
- Addressing diseases, pests or soil problems
- Monitoring the tree for future changes
- Removing the tree when the risk cannot be reasonably reduced
The correct solution depends on the tree’s species, size, health, structure and proximity to people or property. When removal is necessary, Orleans Co. Tree Service has the crews and specialized equipment required for large, hazardous and limited-access tree removal.
What Should You Do if You Notice a Warning Sign?
Do not wait until the wind begins to pick up before addressing a questionable tree. Photograph the tree from a safe distance and schedule a professional inspection.
If a tree or large limb has already fallen, keep everyone away from the area. Never approach wood resting on utility lines or attempt to remove storm-damaged limbs under tension. These situations can change suddenly and should be handled by trained professionals.
Orleans Co. Tree Service provides 24-hour emergency tree service throughout Richmond and surrounding Central Virginia communities.
Schedule a Tree Inspection Before the Next Storm
Orleans Co. Tree Service helps homeowners, businesses and property managers identify damaged, declining and potentially hazardous trees throughout Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and nearby communities.
Our licensed and insured team includes ISA Certified Arborists and has the experience and equipment needed for professional pruning, tree preservation and hazardous tree removal.
Don’t wait for a questionable limb or leaning tree to become an emergency. Request a free on-site estimate or call 804-733-4225 today.