Walk your trees for warning signs
A 15-minute seasonal walk catches 80% of the failures that kill trees or drop limbs.
What you'll learn
- The 5 canopy signs of a stressed tree (thin leaf cover, dieback, early drop)
- What a vertical crack or included bark union actually means
- How to spot gold-spotted oak borer (GSOB) entry holes on coast live oaks
- When a leaner becomes urgent (soil heave, sudden angle change)
Step by step
- Start at the trunk. Look for vertical cracks, fungus conks, or hollow spots.
- Step back and look up. Thin canopy, dead branches, or off-season leaf drop are red flags.
- Check the soil base for mounding or cracks. That means movement.
- Note any mushroom-like fruiting bodies at the base. Photograph them.
- Repeat twice a year, spring and fall. Log changes.
Safety note
Any tree over 30 ft tall within falling distance of a house, driveway, or power line should get an ISA-certified arborist look every 3-5 years, regardless of how healthy it seems.
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