What to check
- Bare branches in summer, especially at the top of the crown
- Bark falling off, or cracks running down the trunk
- Mushrooms or shelf fungus on the trunk or roots
- Soft, crumbly wood or hollow spots
- A new lean or soil heaving up on one side
- Leaves turning brown and dropping early in summer
- Lots of sprouts from the base of the trunk
One sign versus several
A single dead limb is normal for a big tree. Several of these signs together, especially fungus at the base plus dieback in the crown, mean the tree should be looked at by someone who knows what they are seeing.
What we look at on a visit
We check the root flare, sound the trunk for hollow areas, look for cracks and fungus and read the crown. Then we tell you whether the tree is fine, needs pruning or should come down.