How do you know if a tree is sick and needs felling?
By Service Plus Stockholm AB5 min read
Short answer
How do you know if a tree is sick and needs felling?
A sick tree that needs felling usually shows several clear signs at once, such as bark damage, fungal growth at the base of the trunk, dead branches in the crown, cracks in the trunk or a lean that has increased over time. A few dead twigs do not automatically mean the tree has to go, but a combination of several symptoms, especially rot damage near the roots, is a strong signal that the tree should be assessed by a professional on site. Service Plus Stockholm AB carries out a visual assessment and provides a free quote before anything is felled.
Would you rather have it done for you? Read about tree felling in Stockholm – what is included, what affects the price and how to book.
What outward signs show that a tree is sick?
The first signs usually appear in the crown and on the bark before the whole tree looks poorly. A tree that sheds bark in large flakes, has deep lengthwise cracks or is missing leaves on parts of the crown while the rest is healthy is giving clear warning signals.
Timing matters too. A tree that comes into leaf late, gets a thinner crown year after year or drops its leaves early in summer is weakening from the inside.
- Bark that is loose or missing over large areas
- Dead or bark-free branches high up in the crown
- Deep cracks running along the trunk
- A sparse crown that gets thinner every year
- Early leaf drop or late leafing compared with neighbouring trees
- Large numbers of water shoots along the trunk, a sign of stress
How do rot and fungal attack show on the tree?
Fungal fruiting bodies at the base of the trunk or on the trunk itself are one of the clearest signs of rot in the wood. Tinder fungus, honey fungus and other wood-decay fungi break down the load-bearing structure of the tree from the inside, often long before anything shows on the outside.
Rot near the roots is especially serious because that is the part that keeps the tree standing. A tree can look healthy in the crown yet be completely hollow at the base.
- Fungal fruiting bodies, brackets or conks at the base of the trunk
- Soft or spongy bark close to the ground
- A hollow that can be felt or heard when tapping the trunk
- Ants or other insects moving in and out of the trunk in large numbers
- A smell of mould or must at the roots
Which structural signs mean an acute risk of falling?
A tree that suddenly leans more than it used to, or where the soil has cracked and heaved around the roots, may be about to fall. This is the kind of sign that calls for a prompt assessment because the risk of injury and property damage is high.
Branches that have already split but are still hanging in the crown, known as hangers, are also an acute risk because they can fall without warning, especially in wind or under the weight of snow.
- A new or increasing lean on the tree
- Cracks or heaved soil around the root system
- Loose or split branches still hanging in the crown
- Roots visibly damaged by nearby digging or groundwork
- Earlier storm damage that has not healed
When is pruning enough instead of felling?
Not every sick or damaged tree needs to be felled completely. If the damage is limited to individual branches and the trunk and roots are sound, removing the damaged parts can be enough to both save the tree and reduce the risk.
An on-site assessment is always necessary because it is the combination of the tree's species, age, position and the extent of the damage that decides whether felling or pruning is the right measure.
- Pruning can be enough for individual dead or damaged branches
- Felling becomes necessary with rot damage near the base of the trunk or the roots
- The tree's position near a house, playground or footpath affects the assessment
- The species decides how vulnerable the tree is to a particular type of attack
How does Service Plus Stockholm AB help with sick and hazardous trees?
Service Plus Stockholm AB assesses the condition of the tree on site and decides whether pruning is enough or whether felling is necessary for safety. Eken is our tree felling specialist and has long experience of handling both single hazardous trees and larger stands across Greater Stockholm.
After a visual inspection of the bark, crown, trunk and root system, Eken provides a free quote with a clear price before any work begins. If a permit is needed, Service Plus also helps work out what is required before the tree may be felled.
Common follow-up questions
Can a tree look healthy and still be dangerous?
Yes, rot can sit deep inside the trunk or at the roots without showing on the outside until fungal fruiting bodies or cracks appear, so a visual assessment on site is important even if the tree looks green and healthy in the crown.
Does a tree with fungus on the trunk always have to be felled?
Not always, but fungal fruiting bodies at the base of the trunk are a serious sign of rot in the load-bearing part of the tree and should always be assessed by a professional before deciding whether felling is required.
Is it dangerous to wait before felling a hazardous tree?
Yes, a tree with rot damage, cracks or an increasing lean can fall without warning in wind or under the weight of snow, so any waiting should only happen after a professional assessment of the risk.
Does anything special need to be done if the tree stands close to a building?
Trees near houses, garages or play areas are assessed with extra caution because a fall there can cause injury or property damage, which often means felling is prioritised even when the signs of disease are less pronounced.
