Leaning Tree: When to Worry and When Not To

Leans that are usually fine

• A gradual lean the tree grew into, with a curved trunk that straightens toward the top. That is phototropism - the tree grew toward light over decades and built supporting wood as it went.
• A lean that has not changed in the years you have lived there.
• Soil at the base that is flat, undisturbed, and covered with settled leaf litter.

Leans that are genuinely dangerous

• A new or increased lean, especially after a storm. This is the single most important signal.
• Cracked, heaved, or mounded soil on the side opposite the lean. That is the root plate lifting, and it means the tree is actively failing.
• Exposed roots on the uphill side where there were none.
• A straight trunk leaning uniformly, rather than a curved trunk. A straight lean usually means the whole tree moved, not that it grew that way.
• Cracks in the trunk, particularly on the side under tension.
• Saturated ground. After days of rain, soil loses its grip and trees that would shrug off wind come out of the ground.

What to do right now

• If it is leaning toward a structure and the soil is heaved, treat it as urgent. Keep people out from under it, including the room below.
• If it is touching or near a power line, call Huntsville Utilities at 256-535-1200 and stay clear. Do not let anyone cut it out of an energized line.
• Photograph the lean with something for scale, and photograph the base. If the lean changes, you will want the comparison.
• Do not try to cable, brace, or winch a leaning tree yourself. Stored tension in a leaning tree is what kills people doing this work.
• Get an emergency assessment if it threatens anything.

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