A leaning tree is one of the most common things homeowners ask us about, and the honest answer is that many leaning trees are perfectly stable. A tree that grew toward the light at the edge of a woodlot or beside a taller neighbor can lean for decades without trouble.
What matters is whether the lean is old or new. A long-established lean usually shows a trunk that curves back upward toward the top as the tree corrected itself over time. A lean that has developed recently tends to be straight from the base, and the clues are often at ground level: cracked or raised soil on the side opposite the lean, exposed roots, or a gap opening between the trunk and the ground.
Fall is a good time to take a look, because soaked ground during autumn storms and the weight of snow and ice this winter put the most stress on a root plate that is already shifting. If you notice any of those ground-level signs, or the lean seems different than it did last year, it is worth having an experienced arborist assess it before the weather does.
Is there a leaning tree on your property that you have been keeping an eye on? How long has it looked that way?
#TreeSafety #BaltimoreCounty
A real photo from a Crass job of a leaning tree being assessed, ideally showing the root zone on the side opposite the lean. A second image of a naturally curved trunk reaching toward light helps illustrate the difference. Authentic job photos only.
Canva text suggestion: "Leaning Isn't Always a Problem. Moving Is." or "Check the Soil Opposite the Lean"