Five Signs a Longview Tree May Be Turning Into a Hazard

Published July 1, 2026

Most trees give you warning before they fail. The trouble is that the signs are easy to miss until a limb is already on the roof. In the Piney Woods around Longview, where loblolly pines and post oaks grow tall and fast, a walk around the yard every few months can catch a problem while it is still cheap to fix. Here are five things worth looking for.

Leaning That Wasn’t There Before

A tree that has always leaned is usually fine. A tree that starts leaning, or leans more after a wet spell along Gregg County’s clay soils, is a different story. Look at the base. If the soil on one side is cracked or heaving, the root plate may be lifting, and that tree is unstable even on a calm day. Photograph the lean so you can tell whether it is moving over time.

Deadwood in the Canopy

Bare branches with no leaves in summer are dead, and dead limbs drop without warning. A little deadwood is normal, but large dead limbs over a driveway or play area need to come out. This is routine tree trimming and pruning work, cut at the branch collar so the wound seals cleanly instead of rotting inward.

Cracks, Cavities, and Fungus

Run your eye up the trunk. A vertical crack, a hollow cavity, or shelf-like mushrooms growing from the bark all point to internal decay. Conks at the base often mean root rot, which is one of the more dangerous problems because the tree can look full and healthy right up until it topples. When in doubt, get an ISA Certified Arborist to sound the trunk.

Weak, V-Shaped Unions

Where two stems of near-equal size grow from one point, bark can get trapped between them, forming a weak union that splits under ice or wind load. On a valued shade tree this does not always mean removal. Steel cabling and bracing can support the union for years. On a tree that is already declining, it may be the last push toward taking it down.

Roots and Soil Problems

Trenching for a new driveway on Judson Road, piling soil over the root flare, or compacting the ground with heavy equipment all stress a tree in ways that show up a year or two later as thinning canopy and dieback. Protect the root zone during any construction, and watch trees that were near recent digging.

If you spot any of these on your property, do not wait for the next storm to decide for you. Have a professional look before a limb makes the call. Ready for an honest assessment? Contact us or call Raintree at (903) 939-5195, and we will walk your yard, tell you what is a real hazard and what is fine, and put any recommended work in writing.