7 Signs Your Tree Needs to Be Removed Before It Falls
Trees don't always fail dramatically. Most give clear warning signs months or years out — if you know what to look for.
Healthy trees are an asset. Dying or compromised trees are a liability — and in Florida, where hurricane season turns marginal trees into projectiles, the difference matters. Here are the seven warning signs that mean a tree is past the point of saving, plus a few that look scary but usually aren't.
1. Major lean — especially a recent one
A tree that's grown leaning for decades is usually fine. A tree that's newly leaning after a storm — or one with fresh-looking soil heaving on the windward side — is in mechanical failure. The root plate has moved. That tree is coming down on its own timeline. Get it down on yours.
2. Mushrooms or conks on the trunk or at the base
Bracket fungi (Ganoderma, Phellinus, Inonotus, others) growing on the trunk or root flare are usually signs of advanced internal decay. The visible fruiting body means the fungus has been working inside for years. This is one of the biggest red flags in Florida tree work — Ganoderma butt rot is especially common in palms and live oaks, and trees with it can fail without warning in even moderate winds.
3. Hollow or sounding-soft trunk
Knock on the trunk. A solid tree sounds dense. A hollow or decayed tree sounds drum-like. Not every hollow tree is doomed — some live for decades with significant internal cavities — but combined with any other sign on this list, it's usually time.
4. Large dead limbs in the canopy
Look up. If 25% or more of the canopy is dead wood, the tree is in serious decline. A few dead branches happen — but persistent, widespread deadwood that comes back the next year means the root system can't support the canopy anymore. Trees rarely recover from this once it's visible.
5. Cracks or splits in the main trunk or large limbs
Vertical cracks in the trunk, especially ones that go deep enough to see darkness inside, are mechanical failure points. The same goes for "included bark" — where two co-dominant trunks grow tight against each other instead of fusing. Both fail catastrophically in storms.
6. Heaving root plate or exposed roots
Walk a slow circle around the base after a heavy rain. Soil cracks, raised ground, or newly visible roots on one side mean the root plate is shifting. That's the tree starting to come up.
7. The tree is the wrong species in the wrong spot
Some trees are functionally hazards by design — at least in Florida yards close to homes. Common offenders we see:
- Laurel oaks over 40 years old near structures — short-lived, decay-prone
- Queen palms with butt rot
- Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, melaleuca — invasive species, often removed regardless of health
- Pines > 60 ft tall within striking distance of the house, especially after lightning
Things that look scary but usually aren't
- Spanish moss. Doesn't harm the tree. It's an air plant, not a parasite.
- A few dead branches. Normal. Trees self-prune.
- Bark peeling on a healthy tree. Some species (sycamores, eucalyptus) do this naturally.
- Ants in the bark. They're eating bugs, not the tree (usually).
- A long-standing lean. If it's been like that 20 years, it's probably fine.
Florida-specific things to watch for
- Pre-hurricane season inspection. Every May or early June, walk your trees with the list above. Hire a pro for anything you're unsure about.
- Lightning strikes. Tampa is the lightning capital of the US. Struck trees often die over the next 6–24 months — get them assessed.
- Construction nearby. Soil compaction within the root zone from a new build can kill a tree 3–7 years later.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree?
Depends on the county and the tree. For dead, dying, or hazard trees, Florida statute 163.045 limits what permits cities and counties can require. For healthy or "grand" trees (large heritage species), Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas each have their own rules. We confirm before we cut, and we provide the documentation for hazard removals.
When to call a pro vs. wait
Call a tree professional now if you see:
- Mushrooms on the trunk or at the base
- A new lean after a storm
- Heaving soil at the base
- More than 25% deadwood in the canopy
- Any major crack in the trunk
Most of these aren't emergencies — but they're also not "wait til next year" situations. Hurricane season makes the timeline shorter.