Check stems and branches for breakage and/or for bark damage. Especially on main stems and the tree trunk any damage to the bark can become an easy path for disease and eventual decay. Broken twigs are of less concern as they can be corrected with pruning.
How to Pick a Healthy Tree
By Steve Nix, About.com
Plants with an "acutely" forked trunk or with a stem with no central leading shoot can cause you future problems after transplantation. Depending on species, trees with multiple stems should be rejected.
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- Look For Healthy Foliage
- Look at the Tree Container
- Look for Tree Growth
- Look at Tree Stem and Branch Condition
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