How to Identify Signs of Tree Decline
Early Warning Signs
Advanced Decay Indicators
Advanced Decay Indicators
- Bark separation – peeling, cracking, or falling away from the trunk
- Thinning or loss of foliage – sparse leaves or bare branches where growth should be full
- Co-dominant stems (twin trunks) – exaggerated separation that increases the risk of splitting
- Excessive shade thinning the lawn (indirect clue the canopy is stressed)
- Dead or brittle branches that break off easily
- No green under the bark when scratched (dead tissue beneath)
- Small cankers or open wounds in bark
- Minor root damage – small exposed or broken roots
Advanced Decay Indicators
Advanced Decay Indicators
Advanced Decay Indicators
- Trunk rot or soft spots – spongy or hollow areas in the trunk
- Fungal growth (mushrooms, brackets, conks) on trunk or near the base
- Leaning trunk (new or worsening lean)
- Large cracks or splits in the trunk or major limbs
- Significant cankers or missing bark exposing dead wood
- Soil heaving or large root damage around the base
- Discoloration or staining of wood near wounds or cracks
- Heart rot (internal decay in the trunk) – hollowing inside while the outer shell looks intact
- Insect infestations (carpenter ants, beetles) colonizing decayed wood