A hazard assessment isn't a quick look from the driveway. An ISA Certified Arborist checks the base of the trunk for cavities or fungal growth, examines major limb unions for included bark, and looks at the overall lean and root plate for any sign of movement in the soil.
Some of the clearest warning signs are easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking at: mushrooms growing from the trunk or root flare, cracks that run vertically along the bark, or a canopy that thins unevenly on one side while staying full on the other.
Not every tree that gets flagged needs to come down. Cabling, bracing, or selective pruning can often address the actual risk while keeping a mature tree standing, which is usually what property owners want anyway.
Is there a tree on your property that's always made you a little uneasy, even if you couldn't say exactly why?
#TreeSafety
A real photo of an arborist inspecting a trunk base or a limb union up close, ideally showing a hand pointing to or examining a specific area of concern.
Canva text suggestion: "What Does a Hazard Assessment Actually Check?" or "Some Warning Signs Are Easy to Miss"