Your Backyard Forest - Identify and Manage Hazardous Tree Defects

• #5- Canker: A canker is a localized area on a stem or branch of a tree, where bark is sunken or missing. Cankers are caused by wounding or disease. The presence of a large canker increases the chance of the stem or branch breaking near the canker.
Act immediately if...
• A canker affects more than half of the tree’s circumference. • A canker is physically connected to a crack, weak branch union or cavity.

• #6- Roots: Trees with root problems may blow over in windstorms or even fall from the weight of the tree’s leaves in summer. Root problems can be caused by severing or paving-over roots; raising or lowering the soil depth over roots; traffic over the roots; or root decay. Dieback, dead wood in the crown and off-color or smaller than normal leaves are symptoms associated with root problems. These above ground symptoms may serve as your best warning.
Act immediately if. . .
• A tree is leaning with recent root exposure, soil move-ment, or soil mounding near the base of the tree. • More than half of the roots under the tree’s crown have been cut or crushed. • Advanced decay is present in the root flares.

• #7- Poor tree form: Trees with strange shapes are interesting to look at, but may be structurally defective. Poor tree form often results from many years of damage from storms, unusual growing conditions, improper pruning, topping, and other damage. Act immediately if . . .
• A tree leans excessively. • A large branch is out of proportion with the rest of the crown.