5 Warning Signs Your Tree Is Dangerous and Needs Immediate Removal

A falling tree can cause catastrophic damage to your home, vehicles, and anyone nearby. The challenge is that many hazardous trees look perfectly fine from a distance. Knowing what to look for can help you identify problems early, before a storm turns a compromised tree into an emergency. Here are five warning signs every Hampton Roads homeowner should watch for, along with guidance on when to act.

Sign 1: A Leaning Trunk

Not every leaning tree is dangerous. Many trees grow at an angle toward available sunlight, and that lean is part of their natural structure. The concern arises when a tree develops a new lean or when an existing lean worsens over time.

A sudden lean typically means the root system is failing. You may notice soil heaving or cracking on the side opposite the lean, or exposed roots lifting out of the ground. This is a sign that the tree is actively falling in slow motion, and it requires urgent attention.

What to Do

• New lean with soil disturbance: This is an emergency. Keep people and vehicles away from the fall zone and call for emergency tree service immediately.
• Gradual lean with no soil movement: Schedule a professional assessment. The tree may be stable, or it may need cabling, bracing, or removal depending on the degree of lean and the root condition.
• Natural lean (always been that way): Generally not a concern on its own, but worth monitoring if the tree is large and near a structure.

Sign 2: Fungal Growth at the Base

Mushrooms, shelf fungi (conks), or other fungal fruiting bodies growing at the base of a tree or on the lower trunk are one of the most serious warning signs. Fungi do not attack healthy, solid wood. Their presence on the trunk base or root flare means the wood inside is already decaying.

The visible mushrooms are just the reproductive structures. By the time you see them on the outside, the fungal network inside the tree has typically been breaking down wood for years. The trunk may retain its bark and outward appearance while being hollow or spongy inside, creating a tree that can snap or topple without much warning.

What to Do

• Fungi at the root flare or trunk base: This is a high-priority concern. Have the tree assessed by a professional as soon as possible. In many cases, internal decay at the base means the tree cannot be saved and should be removed.
• Fungi on dead branches only: Less critical. The branch should be pruned, but fungi on individual dead limbs do not necessarily mean the whole tree is compromised.
• Mushrooms in the yard near the tree: Mushrooms growing in the lawn near a tree (but not directly on the trunk or root flare) are typically decomposing organic matter in the soil and are not a sign of tree decay.

Sign 3: Dead Branches and Crown Dieback

A healthy tree produces leaves or needles throughout its crown. When you notice large branches with no foliage, clusters of dead limbs, or the top of the tree dying back, the tree is telling you something is wrong.

Dead branches are dangerous for two reasons. First, they are brittle and can break off in moderate winds or even under their own weight, falling without warning. Second, widespread dieback often indicates a systemic problem, such as root damage, disease, or pest infestation, that may eventually kill the entire tree.

What to Do

• One or two dead branches: These can often be pruned by a professional tree trimming service without needing to remove the tree. Regular pruning of dead wood is good preventive maintenance.
• More than 50 percent of the crown is dead: The tree is unlikely to recover. Removal is typically the recommended course of action before the tree fails on its own terms.
• Dieback at the top of the tree (progressive): This often indicates root problems or vascular disease. A professional can determine whether treatment is possible or if removal is necessary.

Sign 4: Cracks and Splits in the Trunk

Vertical cracks, deep splits, or areas where the bark has fallen away to reveal damaged wood beneath are structural red flags. The trunk is the tree's main support column, and any significant crack compromises its ability to bear the weight of the canopy, especially under the additional stress of wind.

There are different types of cracks to understand:

• Frost cracks: Vertical splits caused by freeze-thaw cycles. A single frost crack on an otherwise healthy tree is usually not an emergency, but it should be monitored because it creates an entry point for decay.
• Shear cracks: Deep cracks that go through the trunk, sometimes visible from both sides. These indicate the tree is under severe internal stress and may be splitting apart.
• Lightning strikes: A lightning-struck tree may have a spiral crack running down the trunk. The internal damage is often more extensive than what is visible on the surface.
• Seams where bark is missing: Large areas of exposed wood, especially if the wood beneath is soft or crumbly, indicate advanced decay.

What to Do

• Single, shallow frost crack: Monitor annually. The tree may seal the wound with new growth over time.
• Deep crack through the trunk: This is urgent. The tree could split apart during the next strong wind event. Contact a tree service promptly.
• Multiple cracks or cracks combined with other warning signs: Removal is likely the safest option. A tree with both a crack and a lean, for example, is at very high risk of failure.

Sign 5: Root Damage and Soil Heaving

A tree's root system is its anchor. When roots are damaged or compromised, the entire tree can become unstable, even if the trunk and canopy look healthy. Root problems are especially common in Hampton Roads because of construction activity, soil compaction, and our predominantly sandy coastal soils.

Signs of root damage include:

• Visible root cutting or severing - Construction, trenching for utilities, or driveway installation can sever major anchoring roots.
• Soil heaving on one side of the tree - Raised or cracked soil at the base indicates the root plate is lifting, meaning the tree is beginning to uproot.
• Decay in visible surface roots - Soft, crumbly, or hollow roots at the surface suggest decay has spread into the root system.
• Pavement or sidewalk lifting near the tree - While this shows the roots are active, it can also indicate the tree is growing in a constrained environment that may affect stability.
• Grade changes around the tree - Adding or removing soil over root zones can suffocate or expose roots, leading to decline.

What to Do

• Roots cut on one side (construction damage): Have the tree assessed. If more than one-third of the root zone has been disturbed, the tree may no longer be adequately anchored.
• Soil heaving with a lean: This is an emergency. The tree is actively failing and could fall at any time.
• Decayed roots at the base: Professional assessment is needed. Root decay combined with a large canopy and Hampton Roads' hurricane exposure makes this a high-risk situation.

Emergency vs. Can It Wait?

Not every hazardous tree is an immediate emergency. Use this guide to help prioritize:

Hampton Roads Specific Tree Concerns

Our region has particular conditions that affect tree stability:

• Hurricane and nor'easter exposure - Hampton Roads faces tropical storms and nor'easters that bring sustained high winds and saturating rain. A tree that might stand for years in a calm climate can fail during the first major storm. This makes proactive assessment more important here than in many other parts of the country. Read our full guide on hurricane season tree preparation.
• Sandy soil - Much of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake has sandy, well-drained soil. While this is good for many plants, it provides less anchoring strength for tree roots compared to clay soils. Trees in sandy soil are more susceptible to uprooting in storms.
• High water table - Low-lying areas near the coast, rivers, and tidal creeks often have saturated soil during rainy periods. Waterlogged soil dramatically reduces root anchorage, which is why many trees fail during hurricanes, when heavy rain accompanies high winds.
• Common problem species - Bradford pears (weak branch structure), loblolly pines (shallow roots, top-heavy), and aging water oaks (internal decay) are widespread in Hampton Roads landscapes and account for a large percentage of storm-related tree failures.

Liability If Your Tree Falls on a Neighbor's Property

In Virginia, the general rule is that if a healthy tree falls onto a neighbor's property due to a storm, the neighbor's homeowner's insurance covers the damage. However, this changes if you knew or should have known the tree was hazardous and failed to act.

If a neighbor has notified you in writing that your tree appears dangerous, or if the warning signs described above are clearly visible, you could be held liable for damages if the tree falls and causes harm. This includes damage to their home, vehicles, fences, and other property, as well as potential personal injury claims.

What Happens After Removal

Once a dangerous tree is removed, you will be left with a stump. Depending on your plans for the space, you can choose between stump grinding (faster and more affordable) or complete stump removal (necessary if you plan to build or replant in the same spot). For a full comparison, see our guide on stump grinding vs. stump removal.

If the tree was near your home, removing the stump also eliminates a potential termite attractant and prevents decaying roots from channeling water toward your foundation.

Get a Professional Tree Assessment

If you have noticed any of these warning signs on a tree in your yard, the most important step is getting a professional opinion. Some trees that look dangerous may be stable, and some that appear fine may have hidden problems. At Tree Stump Removal and Excavation, we provide free on-site assessments for homeowners throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, and all of Hampton Roads.

Call or text us at (757) 899-9700 to schedule your assessment. If the situation is an emergency, let us know and we will prioritize your call through our emergency tree service line.