You’ve come to expect trees to grow tall and upright. Therefore, it’s natural to be concerned when your tree starts leaning to one side, especially if it is growing close to your home.
Why do trees lean? Are there professional tree services in Tyrone, GA, that can correct the lean, or will you need to remove the tree? Read on as we explore the potential causes of structural instability in mature specimens and what you should do about it.
Why Trees Lean
The good news is that it’s quite common for trees to lean. Sometimes, the lean could be more due to natural causes than to structural damage. Here are some of the things that could cause your tree to lean.
Phototropism
If something is blocking most of the sunlight from reaching your tree’s canopy, it will start to lean toward available sunlight as it grows. This is called phototropism.
Though tracking phototropism in dense forests is challenging, it is quite easy to pinpoint whether it’s the cause of a tree’s lean in urban environments.
Soil Conditions
If the soil your tree is growing in erodes, it can cause the tree to lean. The lean can also happen when the soil is wet or heavily compacted, which prevents the tree’s roots from establishing a strong anchor.
High Winds
Why do trees lean? If you are in an area that gets frequent strong winds, your tree could develop a lean in response to them. This is especially true if the tree has a dense canopy that reduces wind resistance.
Uneven Weight Distribution
Speaking of the canopy, your tree could also lean because one side of its canopy is heavier than the other. Evaluating uneven canopy growth weight will help you determine why your tree isn’t growing upright.
Root Damage
Part of a tree’s ability to grow upright comes down to the strength of its roots. If the roots are compromised, either by disease or irregular growth patterns, they won’t provide the tree with the stable anchorage it needs to grow straight.
When Should You Worry About Your Tree’s Lean?
While you can sometimes straighten a leaning tree, certain situations could call for the tree’s removal. This is often the case if:
- The lean is sudden and severe
- There’s extensive damage to the trunk
- The tree is close to other structures
- The roots are exposed, or the soil is heaving
Get Professional Help Today
Why do trees lean? Your tree’s lean could be the result of several things, from phototropism to harsh winds, storms, and root damage.
Thankfully, there are ways to address your tree’s lean, such as correcting poor soil compaction issues. You will, however, need to schedule a professional assessment to determine why the lean occurred in the first place. This approach can also go a long way in identifying storm damage on trees, guiding you toward a safe and efficient solution.
Reach out to Boss Tree Service today at (770) 251-8000 for the professional help you need.