Signs a tree should be looked at
- Mushrooms or conks at the base or on the trunk. They usually mean decay inside.
- Cavities, soft wood or hollow sounds when the trunk is tapped.
- A dead or thinning top, or whole sections that leaf out late or not at all.
- Large limbs dropping on calm days, a common warning with older laurel and water oaks.
- Cracks, especially where two trunks split apart.
- A new lean, or soil that's cracked or lifted on one side of the tree.
- Root damage from trenching, a new driveway, a pool install or grading near the trunk.
- A pine browning from the top down, often from lightning or bark beetles.
Common tree problems around Pensacola
- Decay in laurel and water oaks. These oaks grow fast and don't live as long as live oaks. Past middle age, many have heart rot inside a trunk that still looks fine from the outside.
- Lightning and pine beetles. A struck or stressed pine is a magnet for beetles, and once the needles turn, the tree usually doesn't come back.
- Palm butt rot. Palms in Florida can get Ganoderma butt rot, a fungus that rots the base of the trunk. There's no cure, and an infected palm should come down before it falls.
- Storm and salt stress. After a hurricane, trees can be cracked, partly uprooted or stressed by saltwater, and some problems don't show until months later.
- Construction damage. Roots extend well past the branches. Cutting them for a driveway, pool or addition can kill a tree slowly over a few years.
Your options
| Option | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Leave it alone | The tree is healthy and nothing serious is under it. Plenty of trees look worse than they are. |
| Trimming | Dead limbs, heavy limbs over the house, or a crowded canopy. See tree trimming. |
| Cabling or bracing | A valuable tree with a weak fork that's otherwise healthy. Steel cables or rods reduce the chance of a split. |
| Removal | Significant decay, a dead tree, a failing root system, or a tree that's simply too big for the spot. See tree removal. |
When you need a certified arborist
For most trimming and removal decisions, a careful look at the tree and what's around it is enough. Some situations call for a formal written assessment from an ISA Certified Arborist:
- Documenting that a tree is a danger, which under Florida law can allow removal on residential property without a local permit.
- An HOA, city or insurance company asking for a written report.
- A large or historic tree where you want a detailed health and risk evaluation before deciding.
Ask any arborist for their certification number and verify it on the International Society of Arboriculture's website.
What to send us
Photos help a lot: the whole tree from a distance, the base of the trunk, any mushrooms, cracks or cavities, and what's under the tree. Add them to the estimate form and describe what you've noticed.
Questions about tree health & risk checks
How do I know if my tree is dying?
Common signs are a thinning or dead top, branches that don't leaf out, mushrooms at the base, cracks, cavities, and bark falling off. One sign alone doesn't always mean the tree is dying, so it's worth having it looked at.
Can a tree with mushrooms at the base be saved?
Mushrooms at the base usually mean decay in the roots or lower trunk. How serious it is depends on how much sound wood is left, which takes an inspection. On a tree near the house, take it seriously.
Is a leaning tree dangerous?
A tree that has always leaned and has a stable root plate is often fine. A new lean, especially after a storm or heavy rain with cracked or raised soil on one side, can mean the roots are failing and should be checked right away.
Do I need a permit to remove a dead or dangerous tree in Pensacola?
Florida law generally lets you remove a tree on residential property without a local permit if an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect documents that it's a danger. Check with your city or county, and keep the documentation.