Seven signs a tree may be unsafe

What to look for

Any one of these justifies a professional look. Two or more together should be treated as urgent.

• Fungal brackets or mushrooms at the base or on the trunk — often a sign of internal decay in the structural wood.
• A sudden new lean, or soil cracking and lifting on one side of the base, which suggests the root plate is moving.
• Large deadwood in the crown, or a whole section that leafed out late or not at all this year.
• Vertical cracks or splits in the trunk, and dark weeping patches, which can indicate a failing union or internal cavity.
• Tight V-shaped forks with bark trapped inside — a classic failure point in storm winds.
• Loose or missing bark over a large area, exposing dead wood beneath.
• Previous poor pruning, especially topping, which produces heavy regrowth attached only to the outer wood.

Trees worth checking more often

Exposed coastal gardens along the Fife and Angus coast take a constant battering, and salt-laden wind thins crowns on one side. Older beech and ash in Perthshire gardens are worth a closer look — ash dieback is now widespread across Scotland and affected trees become brittle and unpredictable as they decline.

Trees close to a house, a driveway, a public path or a boundary carry the highest consequence if they fail, so they warrant the most attention regardless of species.

What happens next

Not every warning sign means removal. Often the right answer is a crown reduction to take weight and wind load off the structure, removal of a specific failing limb, or simply monitoring the tree over the next couple of seasons. Where a tree is protected, the council still needs to agree the work unless there is an immediate danger.

If something on this list describes a tree in your garden, send us a photograph and we will tell you honestly whether it needs attention.

Common questions

Is a leaning tree always dangerous?

No. Many trees have leaned for decades and are perfectly stable, especially where they have grown that way towards light. A new lean, or a lean with soil cracking at the base, is the one to worry about.

Does ash dieback mean the tree must come down?

Not immediately, but affected trees decline and become brittle, which makes climbing them unsafe later on. Trees near buildings or paths are usually best dealt with earlier rather than later.

How often should large trees be inspected?

A visual check twice a year, and after any major storm, is sensible for large trees near property. Commercial and public sites usually need a formal documented inspection.

More advice

• Do you need permission to remove a tree in Scotland?
• When is the best time to cut a hedge in Scotland?
• Artificial grass or real turf: which suits a Scottish garden?