What a Professional Tree Inspection Covers (And Why You Need One)

Most tree problems are invisible until they are not. A tree can look perfectly healthy from your back porch while quietly developing internal decay, root damage, or structural defects that make it a serious hazard. By the time you notice something is wrong — a leaning trunk, a sudden branch failure, bark falling off — the problem has often been developing for years.

A professional tree inspection by a certified arborist is the most reliable way to catch these issues early, when they are still manageable.

The arborist starts with a full visual inspection of the tree from the ground, looking at:

Crown and canopy:

• Dead, dying, or missing branches
• Dieback patterns (which direction, how far)
• Unusual leaf color, size, or density
• Signs of pest or disease activity (galls, boring holes, webs, fungal growth)
• Crossing or rubbing branches

Trunk:

• Cracks, splits, or seams in the bark
• Cavities or hollow sections
• Fungal conks (shelf fungi growing from the trunk — a reliable indicator of internal decay)
• Unusual swelling or sunken areas
• Bark inclusions in branch unions

Root flare and base:

• Whether the root flare is visible (buried root flares indicate girdling roots)
• Soil heaving near the base (can indicate root failure)
• Mushrooms growing at the base (often indicates root rot)
• Mulch volcanoes or soil piled against the trunk

For trees with suspected internal decay, the arborist may use a mallet to sound the trunk — hollow sections produce a noticeably different sound than solid wood. More advanced assessments use a resistograph (a drill-like tool that measures resistance as it penetrates the wood) to map internal decay without significantly damaging the tree.

Root problems are often the hardest to detect and the most serious. The arborist will look at soil conditions, drainage, signs of compaction, and any construction or grade changes near the tree that may have damaged roots.

The arborist evaluates the overall architecture of the tree — whether the weight distribution is balanced, whether there are co-dominant stems with weak unions, and whether the tree's lean (if any) is within normal range or indicates root failure.

After any major storm — Ice, wind, and lightning can cause damage that is not immediately obvious. A post-storm inspection is especially important for large trees near structures.

Before buying a home — Trees are not typically covered in standard home inspections. If the property has large trees, a separate arborist inspection is worth the cost.

If you notice any of these:

• Sudden lean that was not there before
• Large branches dropping without obvious cause
• Mushrooms or shelf fungi on the trunk or at the base
• Significant dieback in the crown
• Bark falling off in large sections
• The tree did not leaf out normally in spring

Every 3–5 years for mature trees — Proactive inspections on large trees near structures are simply good risk management.

Most professional tree inspections in the Dallas area run $100–$300 for a standard residential assessment. More complex assessments involving resistograph testing or multiple large trees will cost more.

Many tree service companies, including Tree Crew, offer free visual assessments when you are also getting a quote for service work. If you just want an independent health assessment with no service attached, expect to pay for the arborist's time.

Tree Crew's certified arborists serve Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and surrounding areas. Call (972) 999-3627 to schedule an inspection or request a free estimate if you have specific concerns about a tree on your property.