Nine Signs a Tree Near Your House Is Dangerous

By the crew at Framingham Tree Service. Updated October 2026.

Trees rarely fall without warning. Most show signs for months or years first. You do not need training to spot many of them. Walk around your trees once in the spring and once in the fall, and look for these.

1. Dead branches in the crown

A few small dead twigs are normal. Large dead limbs, or dead branches all through the top, are not. Dead wood falls with little warning, often in light wind.

2. Mushrooms at the base

Fungus growing on the trunk or the root flare usually means decay inside. The mushroom you see is the fruit of a much larger infection in the wood.

3. Cracks in the trunk

A deep vertical crack, especially one that goes all the way through, means the trunk has lost strength. Cracks often show up after storms.

4. A V-shaped fork with bark pinched in

When two trunks grow from the same point with a tight V, bark gets trapped between them and the union is weak. These split in wet snow and wind. Many can be cabled if caught early.

5. A new or changing lean

A tree that has always leaned is often fine. A tree that starts to lean, or leans more after a storm, is a problem. Look at the ground on the side away from the lean. Cracked or raised soil means the roots are giving way.

6. Root damage

Roots cut for a new driveway, a septic system, a foundation or a water line can kill a tree slowly or leave it unstable. Trouble may not show up for several years after the digging.

7. Hollow or soft wood

Knock on the trunk. A hollow sound, soft spots, or cavities with punky wood mean decay. A hollow tree can stand for years, but the thinner the shell, the higher the risk.

8. Bark falling off

Loose bark, or bark falling away in patches, can mean the area beneath is dead. On ash trees, bark peeling off along with heavy woodpecker damage is a common sign of emerald ash borer. See our ash borer guide.

9. Thin or early fall color

A tree with sparse leaves, small leaves, or color that turns weeks before the trees around it is under stress. The cause may be root trouble, disease or drought.

What to do

If you see one of these signs on a tree that could hit your house, your driveway or a spot where people spend time, have it looked at. Many problems can be handled with pruning or cabling if they are caught early. Some trees need to come down. We will tell you honestly which one you are dealing with, and an inspection costs nothing.

Common Questions

Can a tree with mushrooms be saved?

Sometimes. It depends on the type of fungus and how much sound wood remains. Have it looked at before deciding.

Do you charge to inspect a tree?

No. We look at the tree and give you a free written estimate.