5 Signs Your Tree is About to Fall (Joplin Safety Guide) | Joplin Tree Service Blog

Trees are experts at hiding their weaknesses. A tree can look green and leafy on the outside while being completely hollow on the inside.

In Joplin, where wind speeds regularly top 60 mph, a hidden defect can turn a shade tree into a 5-ton hammer aimed at your roof.

Here are the 5 warning signs that your tree needs an immediate inspection.

1. The "Heaving" Root Plate

This is the most dangerous sign. Go outside on a windy day. Look at the ground at the base of the tree trunk.

The Sign: If the soil lifts up and down as the tree sways, the roots have detached.
The Danger: The tree has lost its anchor. It will fall over completely (root ball and all) in the next gust.
Action: Call us immediately. This is an emergency.

Inspect the bark. Do you see a crack running up the trunk?

The Sign: A crack that goes deep into the wood (not just surface bark texture) indicates "Shear Failure." The fibers are pulling apart.
The Danger: The trunk can split in half vertically.

If you see mushrooms or "conks" (shelf fungus) growing on the root flares or the base of the trunk:

The Sign: Mushrooms are the fruit of a fungus. If you see the fruit, the "body" of the fungus is eating the roots underground.
The Danger: Root rot. The tree might look healthy, but it has no shoes. It can topple unexpectedly.

Trees naturally lean towards the light.

Safe Lean: A tree that has leaned for 20 years and corrected itself (the top curves back up) is usually stable.
Bad Lean: A tree that was straight yesterday but is leaning today has failed. Look for fresh soil mounding on the side opposite the lean.

Look up. Do you see large branches with no leaves?

The Sign: Deadwood is dry and brittle. It doesn't bend in the wind; it breaks.
The Danger: These branches (Widowmakers) can snap on a calm day and kill someone walking below.

Don't Guess. If you see any of these signs, don't wait for the tornado siren.