Is A Leaning Tree Dangerous?

The Importance of Professional Tree Removal in Phoenix, AZ

A severe lean is just one reason to remove a tree. Professional tree removal addresses obstructive, hazardous, and overgrown trees to ensure the safety, usability, and visual appeal of a property and its landscape. Local experts in Phoenix, AZ, handle this type of work with care and precision, using years of training, experience, and local knowledge to protect properties from problematic specimens. 

Professional tree removal in Phoenix, AZ, involves specialized equipment and expertise that the average property owner doesn’t have. Tree care experts know how to navigate dangerous situations, such as removing trees near utility lines and handling diseased trees carefully to protect nearby residents. Their expertise on the local climate, plant life, and soil conditions helps them handle removals safely and efficiently.

Why Do Trees Lean?

Trees lean for several reasons, and not all of them indicate a serious problem requiring a choice between tree trimming vs tree removal.
Some grow at an angle naturally because of their species or to seek more sunlight. Others may develop a tilt at a young age that remains in maturity. 

Other reasons include: 

• Weather: Strong winds and heavy rain can weaken or loosen a tree’s roots, causing it to lean suddenly after a storm. 
• Disease or infestation: When an infestation or infection takes hold of a tree, it can lead to structural instability, increasing the likelihood of a lean. 
• Poor soil conditions: Soil erosion can destabilize tree roots, and compacted soil can prevent roots from spreading and anchoring the tree properly. 

The Potential Dangers of a Leaning Tree

Is a leaning tree dangerous and at risk of falling? A sudden fall is a possibility with some leaning trees. 

A fall could create substantial property damage and cause injuries if it lands on someone, a building, a vehicle, or another structure, which highlights how to know when it’s time to call a tree professional in Arizona.
It could also interfere with local utilities if it falls onto nearby power lines. 

There is also a liability risk with leaning trees. If a tree from your yard falls onto someone else’s property, you could be financially and legally liable for the damages. 

When Does a Lean Warrant Hazardous Tree Removal?

Professional removal is one way to handle a leaning tree. This option is usually ideal if the tree is near a high-traffic area or a structure.

For instance, if the tree is leaning over a driveway or your roof, you should contact a tree care company immediately for an assessment. You and your family would be in danger if that tree fell.

How To Tell if a Slanted Tree Is Dangerous

When asking, “Is a leaning tree dangerous?” it’s important to recognize certain signs that help indicate the plant’s safety and stability. For instance, it’s reasonable to assume that a once upright tree that tilts suddenly after a storm is unstable and needs removal. Instability is also likely if you notice the soil around the tree starting to lift, especially after strong winds.

Other tree removal signs may include shallow roots and cracks in the trunk or its branches. However, a natural curve around the base of the tree that has leaned slowly over time often means that the plant has adapted to its angled growth and stabilized itself. Removal might not be necessary in that case.

Is a Slanted Tree Fixable?

Scheduling an inspection with an arborist is the best way to determine the actual condition and safety of a leaning tree. Removal is often the solution, but structural support may be an option.

Some leaning trees benefit from cabling and bracing installed by certified arborists and expert tree care specialists. The hardware helps support the tree, prevent additional leaning, and reduce the risk of a fall. 

Schedule a Professional Tree Risk Assessment Today

Is a leaning tree dangerous? It can be if the cause is root damage or instability, but an assessment from an arborist is the best way to determine the safety of a leaning tree on your property. 

Elite Tree Service provides comprehensive tree care services to residents throughout Phoenix, AZ. Our certified arborists, tree climbers, and technicians provide personalized solutions to ensure the safety, health, and beauty of local trees. 

To learn more about the benefits of tree removal or to request an evaluation for a leaning tree on your property, call Elite Tree Service at (602) 603-8393.