How to Tell If a Tree Is Dying and Needs to Come Down

Not every tree that looks rough is actually dying — and not every tree that looks fine is actually healthy. Trees can hide serious problems beneath the bark or below the soil line for years before showing obvious signs of trouble. Knowing what to look for can help you catch a hazard before it becomes an emergency (or a very expensive tree falling on your roof).

Here's how to tell the difference between a tree that needs some care and a tree that needs to be removed.

1. Check for Dead or Bare Branches

A few dead branches scattered through an otherwise full canopy is normal — trees shed limbs naturally. But if a large portion of the crown is bare, especially in late spring or summer when the tree should be fully leafed out, that's a sign the tree is struggling or already dead in sections.

Quick test: Scratch a small section of bark on a bare branch with your fingernail. Green underneath means it's still alive; brown and dry means that branch is dead.

2. Look at the Bark

Healthy bark is intact and firmly attached to the trunk. Watch for:

• Cracks or seams running vertically up the trunk

• Peeling or missing bark, especially in large patches

• Deep cavities or hollow sections, which can signal internal decay

A little bit of bark shedding is normal for some species (like sycamores or river birch), but large-scale bark loss combined with other symptoms is a red flag.

3. Watch for Fungus and Mushrooms

Mushrooms or fungal growth (called conks) at the base of the trunk or on exposed roots are one of the clearest signs of internal decay. Fungus feeding on a tree means it's breaking down wood fiber from the inside out — which weakens the tree's structural integrity long before it's visible from the outside.

4. Check the Lean

A tree that has always grown at a slight angle isn't necessarily a problem. A tree that has recently started leaning, or one where you can see soil lifting or cracking around the base of the trunk on one side, is a different story — that can mean the root system is failing, and the tree could come down with the next strong wind.

5. Inspect the Roots

Walk around the base of the tree and look for:

• Exposed, damaged, or rotting roots

• Mushrooms growing directly from the root flare

• Soil heaving or cracking near the base

• Large roots that have been cut or damaged (from construction, trenching, or lawn equipment)

Root damage is especially dangerous because it's often invisible until the tree fails, since the roots are what's actually holding the tree upright.

6. Look for Cracks or Splits in the Trunk

Vertical cracks, especially ones that run deep or appear to be widening, indicate the trunk is under stress and may be at risk of splitting. This is particularly common after storms or in trees with included bark (where two major limbs grow too close together and create a weak union).

7. Consider Recent Stress Events

Trees don't always show damage immediately. Keep an eye on trees that have recently experienced:

• Construction or excavation nearby (root damage)

• Severe drought

• Storm damage, even if it looked minor at the time

• Lightning strikes

• Significant grade changes (added or removed soil around the base)

Stress from any of these can take months or even years to show up as visible decline.

8. Check Neighboring Trees

If several trees in the same area are showing similar symptoms, it could point to a shared issue like root rot, a pest infestation, or disease that's spreading — which means it's worth having the whole area assessed, not just the one obviously struggling tree.

When It's Time to Call a Professional

A tree with one or two of these signs might just need monitoring or a bit of pruning. But if you're seeing multiple warning signs — especially fungus at the base, a new lean, or a hollow-sounding trunk — it's worth getting a professional assessment rather than waiting to see what happens.

Some problems, like internal decay or root damage, aren't something you can accurately judge from the ground, and a tree that looks "mostly fine" can still be structurally unsound. This matters most for any tree near your house, driveway, power lines, or anywhere people regularly walk or park.

Rakescapes offers tree assessments across Dickson and Middle Tennessee — if you've got a tree you're unsure about, we'll take a look and give you a straight answer on whether it needs to come down, can be saved, or just needs some maintenance. Call us at 615-886-8208 to schedule a free estimate.