Welcome to Ask the Arborist, where we tackle your tree-related questions with science, a moderate dose of caffeine, and the occasional Harry Potter reference.
Today’s question is one I get asked constantly: “Is my tree dangerous? Should I take it down?”
Now this is where things get tricky. Because yes—some trees absolutely are dangerous. But many are not. And surprisingly often, I meet homeowners who are deeply worried about trees that are actually fairly low risk and want to remove an otherwise safe and valuable tree.
Thankfully, arborists have a fancy schmancy credential called Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, or TRAQ for short—which sounds vaguely like something you’d need before operating magical creatures at Hogwarts. But really, it’s just a systematic way of evaluating trees by asking a few important questions:
Is there a condition of concern?
What would the tree hit if it failed?
Were the tree to fail, how severe would the consequences be?
And finally, how likely is that failure to actually happen?
From there, we assign a risk rating—low, moderate, high, or extreme—and help homeowners make informed decisions.
And here’s the important part: not all people have the same tolerance for risk. Some homeowners deeply value their trees and are willing to accept a little more risk to preserve them. Others want absolutely zero chance of a limb falling on their favorite garden gnome. Neither approach is necessarily wrong.
But the single biggest factor in tree risk is the target—what would the tree actually hit?
A hollow tree deep in the woods may technically be in rough condition, but if there’s nothing around it, the overall risk is fairly low. Meanwhile, a perfectly green spruce hanging over your bedroom during an ice storm may deserve a lot more attention. Risk is not just about the tree. It’s about the tree plus the target.
Now, there are countless defects and conditions that can increase tree risk—and believe me, I have seen EVERYTHING. If I tried to list them all here, this article would slowly become The Odyssey, but with more chainsaws and mycorrhizal fungi.
Thankfully, most serious concerns I encounter tend to fall into two major categories.
The first is dead, diseased, or dying limbs. This is probably the most common issue people notice—and for good reason. Dead branches eventually fail. Sometimes during storms. Sometimes during calm weather. Sometimes precisely when your in-laws are visiting and you’re trying to look responsible.
Partial tree failure is far more common than entire tree failure. Most trees do not suddenly uproot and crash dramatically to the ground like a scene from Lord of the Rings. Usually, it’s a limb. A large dead branch over a driveway, house, prized begonias, or sidewalk can absolutely represent legitimate risk and should be evaluated.
The second major concern is codominant stems. This is one of those arborist phrases homeowners politely nod at while secretly wondering if we made the term up.
Codominant stems occur when a tree develops two main trunks competing for the same space. Over time, these unions can become structurally weak—especially if bark gets trapped between them. Think of it like two people trying to squeeze through a doorway at the same time for 40 years. Eventually something gives.
These stems can split apart under snow load, wind, or ice, especially in species already prone to structural issues.
Now here’s the reassuring part: just like people, trees are not automatically dangerous simply because they are large, old, imperfect, or slightly weird-looking. Trees are incredibly resilient organisms. Many defects can be monitored or managed with pruning, cabling, reduction, or periodic inspections. And yes—sometimes removal is the right answer. But fear alone is not a great tree management strategy.
A certified arborist can help determine whether your tree is genuinely hazardous, moderately concerning, or simply guilty of looking suspicious—preferably an arborist who writes articles like these.
Until next time, stay safe, appreciate your trees, and remember:
Just because your tree looks dramatic doesn’t mean it’s planning violence.
Mike White is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and owner of Treemaster LLC. He spends much of his time explaining fungal decay to unsuspecting homeowners, being harassed by squirrels, and defending innocent trees falsely accused of “looking dangerous.” If you’re interested in asking the arborist a question, email mike@treemasterllc.com.
