Is My Tree Dangerous?

A tree touching or within reach of a power line

• If any part of the tree is touching or very close to a power line, stay well back and call your electric utility first - they have to clear the line before any work happens near it.

A tree that has fallen, split, or has a large broken limb hanging

• A tree on a house, car, or fence, or one that has split down the trunk, is an emergency - call right away.
• A broken limb still hanging in the canopy (a 'widow-maker') can drop without warning, sometimes long after the storm that broke it. Don't stand or park underneath it.

A new lean, or soil lifting and cracking at the base

• A tree that has started to lean, or where the soil is heaving or cracking on one side of the base, can mean the root system is failing. In saturated winter soil this is how shallow-rooted firs tip over.

Mushrooms or fungus at the base, a dead top, or large dead limbs

• Fungus or mushrooms at the base are a sign of decay in the root system or the lower trunk.
• A dead or dying top, or large dead limbs hanging in the canopy, mean parts of the tree are already failing.

A tree that could hit something if it fell

• A tall Douglas fir leaning over a bedroom, a cedar over the driveway, a maple over the deck - what a tree could hit is a big part of whether it's dangerous. A tree at the back of a wide lot is a different calculation than one over a house.

Is this tool a substitute for a professional assessment?

No. This is a quick checklist to help you decide whether to call - not a certified tree risk assessment. If you need a formal written assessment for a permit, an HOA, a lender or a dispute, hire an ISA Certified Arborist for that report. We do the hands-on evaluation and the removal work.

What should I do if the tree is touching a power line?

Stay well back and call your electric utility first. They have to clear the line before any work happens near it. Once the utility has made it safe, call us and we'll take it from there.

The tree hasn't fallen but it's leaning - is that an emergency?

A new lean, especially with soil lifting or cracking at the base, can mean the root system is failing. If it could hit a house, car, or driveway, get it looked at soon - request a free estimate and we'll come out. If it's actively moving or about to fall, call us right away.

I ran the checker and it said no warning signs. Am I in the clear?

It means there are no obvious warning signs right now. Keep an eye on your trees after big storms, and run the checker again if anything changes. When in doubt, a free estimate is always an option - we're happy to come look.