Service
Hazardous Tree Assessment
ISA Certified Arborist evaluation of trees showing structural weakness, decay, or other failure indicators, with a written hazard rating and a clear recommendation, not a rushed quote.
Know Which Trees Are Actually a Problem
Not every tree that looks dangerous is, and not every tree that looks fine is safe. Tree failures are usually predictable, split unions, root decay, trunk cavities, dead leaders, lean angle changes, but only if someone qualified is looking for them.
Tree MD’s hazardous tree assessments are performed by an ISA Certified Arborist and produce a written hazard rating you can use to make the decision: remove, prune to mitigate, monitor on a schedule, or leave alone.
What Gets Evaluated
A hazard assessment isn’t a glance from the driveway. We walk the tree from multiple angles and check the things that actually predict failure:
- Structural defects, included bark, codominant unions, cracks at the trunk or major branches
- Decay indicators, fungal conks, cavity depth, sounding tests on suspect areas
- Root system condition, root flare exposure, signs of root rot or girdling roots, soil disturbance, recent grade changes
- Lean and load, current lean angle, history of lean change, weight distribution across the canopy
- Target zone, what the tree could hit if it fails, and how often that target is occupied
- Site context, recent construction impact, drought stress, storm history, surrounding tree removals that have changed wind exposure
What You Get
A written report with:
- Hazard rating per tree, using the ISA Tree Risk Assessment framework (low / moderate / high / extreme)
- Specific defects observed, with photos
- Recommended action: remove, mitigate via pruning, retain with monitoring, or no action needed
- Time horizon, when the next assessment should happen if we’re recommending retention
You can use this report directly with insurance, an HOA board, or a city permitting office. We provide it as a PDF and walk you through it so the recommendations make sense.
When This Matters Most
- After a major storm event, when adjacent trees have been damaged or lost
- Before construction work that’s going to affect roots or grade
- When you’ve noticed a tree’s lean changing, mushrooms appearing at the base, or limbs dropping without warning
- For HOA common areas and commercial properties where tree-related liability is on a board or property manager
- Before a tree removal estimate, when you’re not sure whether removal is actually needed
Most Assessments Lead Somewhere
If the report recommends removal, we can quote that work directly. If it recommends mitigation, we can plan the pruning. If it recommends monitoring, the right next step is usually a Plant Health Care program, recurring inspections so you’re not waiting on the next big storm to find out whether the tree is still standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hazardous tree assessment?
A hazardous tree assessment is an ISA Certified Arborist evaluation of a specific tree (or set of trees) to identify structural defects, decay, root issues, and other indicators that predict failure. The assessment uses the ISA Tree Risk Assessment framework and produces a written hazard rating per tree, low, moderate, high, or extreme, along with a specific recommendation: remove, mitigate via pruning, retain with monitoring, or no action needed.
How can I tell if a tree on my property is hazardous?
Visible warning signs include: significant lean changes (especially a recent or progressive lean), dead leaders in the upper canopy, mushrooms or fungal conks at the base, large cavities or trunk decay, cracks at major branch unions, recent limb drops without warning, and bark sloughing at the soil line. But many serious hazards are not visible from the ground, internal trunk decay, root system failure, and structural defects in the upper canopy all require professional assessment. If you suspect a tree is dangerous, get a written hazard evaluation before deciding.
If a tree is rated hazardous, do I have to remove it immediately?
Not necessarily. A hazard rating reflects the probability and severity of failure, but the decision depends on the target, what the tree could hit and how often that target is occupied. A high-hazard tree in a remote acreage corner is different from a moderate-hazard tree over a children's play area. The written assessment includes recommended action: remove, mitigate via pruning, retain with monitoring, or no action. For high and extreme ratings near occupied targets, removal is usually the right call.
Can a hazardous tree be saved with pruning?
Sometimes. Trees with structural defects in the upper canopy can often be made safe through targeted pruning, removing a compromised leader, reducing crown weight on a leaning trunk, or eliminating crossing limbs that are creating included bark unions. Trees with trunk decay, root system failure, or advanced disease usually cannot be saved by pruning alone. The hazard assessment will tell you which category the tree falls into.
How do I know if a storm-damaged tree can be saved?
Trees that lost less than about 30% of their canopy and have no major structural damage (no split trunks, no major union failures, no root system uplift) can usually recover with selective pruning and follow-up care. Trees with major structural damage, significant root uplift, or canopy loss above 50% are usually past saving. The middle range , 30% to 50% canopy loss, minor structural damage, depends on species, age, and recovery support. An ISA Certified Arborist evaluation distinguishes between the categories.
Who is responsible if a neighbor's tree falls on my property?
In Texas, this is generally an act of God if the tree was healthy at the time of failure, your insurance covers the damage. If the tree was visibly hazardous and the neighbor was on notice (a written warning, an HOA complaint, or documented prior issues), the neighbor may bear responsibility for not addressing the known hazard. We document hazardous-tree assessments in writing partly because that documentation is what shifts the legal calculus when a known-hazardous tree later fails. Talk to your insurance agent for specifics.
Interested in Hazardous Tree Assessment?
Reach out for a quote or to learn more.