Is a leaning tree dangerous?

Leaning trees are naturally a concern for homeowners, particularly if they are leaning towards a property or a public pathway. While not all leaning trees are dangerous, it is strongly advisable to seek advice from a professional tree surgeon to be sure as not only could it put the lives of you and other people at risk, you could also be held personally liable if damage or injury was to occur in the event it came down.

What causes a tree to lean? 

A tree grows at an angle when it is forced to compete for light with another species.  As a strengthening measure, the tree lays down denser wood on one side of its trunk to compensate for the leverage. Whether a tree can maintain a leaning position for long depends partly on the specimen. Healthy oak trees and other varieties have strong wood and can grow at an angle without breaking. Other varieties may be more susceptible to wind damage which can exacerbate the problem.

Trees which were previously growing upright are a cause for concern as are those which are leaning more than they were a week or a month ago. If the lean is accompanied by large dead branches, sections of the tree are thin in leaf cover especially in comparison to other parts of the tree, and there are hollow branches, a professional tree surgeon should be contacted immediately to carry out an evaluation of the tree, particularly those which pose a risk to people and property. The same advice applies if cracked soil is evident on the side opposite the lean or there are exposed roots. Leaning trees are unpredictable and pose an increased risk of coming down in storms and gales.

The majority of leaning trees are caused by a weak root structure or some form of damage to the upper section. Sometimes such damage occurred when the tree was in its early stage of growth and therefore there is little corrective action that can be taken aside from felling when it poses a risk. Leaning trees often have uneven limbs or too many branches growing on one side, threatening the stability of the tree and these are more prone to wind damage.

In cases where the leaning tree is generally healthy and doesn’t pose a hazard to people or property, pruning can take place to provide a more even distribution of weight or a brace can be created with cabling and stakes to compensate for the lean.

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