Question 1

My tree is hollow inside. Does that mean it will fall?

Accepted Answer

A hollow tree is not automatically doomed — many hollow trees stand safely for decades. What matters is how much sound wood remains in the trunk wall, not the size of the cavity itself. The engineering behind it: - Trees are strongest in their outer wood, much like a hollow steel pipe or bamboo resists bending better than you'd expect - A widely used arborist guideline: a tree may have acceptable strength if the sound wood shell is at least 1/3 of the radius roughly when the hollow is less than

Question 2

Tree roots are lifting my sidewalk and I'm worried about my foundation. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

Surface roots heaving sidewalks are a common headache, but the good news is that roots rarely damage sound foundations directly — and there are ways to manage the conflict without killing a valuable tree. Sidewalk/driveway heaving: - Caused by large lateral roots growing under and expanding beneath pavement - Do NOT simply cut large roots flush to the trunk — severing major roots can destabilize the tree and create a fall hazard - Options: grind/ramp the raised edge, replace the slab with a root

Question 3

There are mushrooms growing at the base of my tree. Should I be worried?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms at the base of a tree can be a serious warning sign, but not all fungi are created equal. The mushrooms you see are the fruiting bodies — the reproductive structures — of a much larger fungal organism living inside or around your tree's root system. The real question is: which fungus is it, and what is it feeding on? High-concern fungi these indicate internal decay: - Honey mushrooms Armillaria — clusters of honey-colored mushrooms at the base, often with white mycelial fans under the

Question 4

My tree has a large crack in the trunk. Is it dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Trunk cracks are one of the most significant structural defects in trees, and they range from cosmetic concerns to imminent failure hazards. The type, location, and depth of the crack determine the risk level. Types of trunk cracks: 1. Frost cracks radial shakes: Vertical cracks that open in winter and partially close in summer. Caused by rapid temperature changes. These are common on thin-barked trees maples, cherries, lindens. While unsightly, they rarely cause structural failure on their own.

Question 5

Tree branches are growing into power lines. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Trees growing into power lines are a serious safety hazard that causes thousands of power outages annually and can create life-threatening electrocution risks. However, you should never attempt to trim branches near power lines yourself. Critical safety warning: - High-voltage power lines can arc electricity through the air — you don't need to touch them to be electrocuted - Wet branches, metal ladders, and pole pruners are excellent conductors - Even "insulated" lines may not be — what looks li

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My tree is hollow inside. Does that mean it will fall?

Tree roots are lifting my sidewalk and I'm worried about my foundation. What can I do?

There are mushrooms growing at the base of my tree. Should I be worried?

My tree has a large crack in the trunk. Is it dangerous?

Tree branches are growing into power lines. What should I do?