How to Tell If a Tree Is Healthy (Homeowner’s Guide for WNY)

Healthy trees boost curb appeal, cut cooling costs, and handle our wild Western New York weather far better than stressed ones. Here’s a simple, homeowner-friendly checklist you can run through in a minute—plus seasonal tips and red flags that mean it’s time to call a pro.

The 60-Second Health Check

• Crown fullness: Leaves/needles are evenly distributed—no big bare patches or lots of dead tips.

• New growth: This year’s shoots at branch ends look longer and livelier than last year’s.

• Leaf/needle color: Uniform for the season; minimal spots, blotches, or premature fall color.

• Scratch test: Lightly scrape a small twig—green & moist = alive, brown & dry = dead.

• Deadwood: A few tiny dead twigs is normal; many brittle branches signals stress/decline.

• Bark & trunk: Mostly intact; no long vertical cracks, oozing, or piles of sawdust (borers).

• Root flare visible: Trunk should widen at the base; no “mulch volcano,” buried flare, or girdling roots.

• Fungi at base: None. Mushrooms or shelf fungi on the trunk/base often mean internal decay.

• Leaning/soil heave: No sudden lean, lifting soil, or exposed roots on one side.

Seasonal Clues

• Spring: Buds should break around the same time as other trees of the same species.

• Summer: Leaves stay turgid through heat; wilting by midday suggests water/soil/root issues.

• Fall: Color change and drop happen on schedule—not weeks ahead of neighbors.

• Winter: Buds are plump; watch for bark splitting or sunscald on the south/southwest trunk.

Evergreen-Specific Tips

It’s normal for inner needles to yellow and drop in fall. Whole-branch yellowing or tip dieback is not—investigate watering, salt exposure, pests, or root damage.

Western New York Watch-Outs

• Road salt & plow spray: Salt burn shows as browning on the side facing the road.

• Compaction: Frozen-thaw cycles and heavy equipment can compact soil around roots.

• Ice & lake-effect snow: Repeated loading can expose weak branch unions or old storm damage.

Red Flags—Call a Pro ASAP

• Mushrooms/shelf fungi on the trunk or at the base

• 20–30% or more of the crown dead or thinning

• Large dead limbs over driveways, sidewalks, or play areas

• Fresh cracks, cavities, oozing; piles of sawdust (frass), D-shaped exit holes (borers)

• Sudden lean, root plate lifting, or soil cracking around the base

• Branches contacting or near power lines (safety hazard)

Quick Care Wins (to Keep Healthy Trees Healthy)

• Mulch donut: 2–3" deep, as wide as you can—keep mulch off the trunk.

• Deep, infrequent watering during dry spells (slow soak to 8–12").

• Smart pruning: Never “top” trees; remove dead/diseased limbs with proper cuts (often best in dormancy).

• Protect roots: Avoid piling soil and heavy traffic over the root zone; be careful with mowers/string trimmers.

Not Sure What You’re Seeing? We Can Help.

Snap three photos—(1) the full tree, (2) trunk close-up, and (3) the root flare—and we’ll give you a quick read. If there’s a safety concern, we can prioritize an on-site assessment.

Reel Tree Service — local, insured, and 5-star rated.