Spring Tree Inspection Checklist for Dorset Homeowners
After a Dorset winter — with its gales, frost and heavy rainfall — your trees may be in a worse state than they look from the kitchen window. Spring is the ideal time to get up close and assess them properly. This checklist walks you through what a professional arborist looks for during a tree inspection, and what warning signs mean you need to call in expert help.
Every spring, Clearcut Tree Surgery responds to calls from homeowners in Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown and across Dorset who have noticed something wasn't right with their trees — often having ignored it for months. Early identification of problems means less expensive treatment, lower risk of failure and a better outcome for the tree. This checklist helps you spot the most common issues before they become serious.
Important safety note: This checklist is for ground-level visual inspection only. Never climb a tree or use a ladder to inspect branches without proper training and equipment. If you identify something concerning, call a qualified arborist rather than attempting to assess it yourself from height.
The Spring Tree Inspection Checklist
1. Check the Base and Root Zone
Start at the ground. The root zone is often where serious problems first become visible.
- Look for raised or cracked soil on one side of the tree — this can indicate root plate movement or uprooting risk
- Check for fungal fruiting bodies (mushrooms or brackets) at the base of the trunk or at soil level — these can indicate internal decay
- Look for signs of waterlogging around the base, which can cause root rot
- Check for any physical damage to surface roots from machinery, vehicles or lawn equipment
- Look for girdling roots (roots growing around the trunk base) which restrict water and nutrient flow
2. Inspect the Trunk
The trunk is the tree's structural core — damage here can affect the entire tree's stability.
- Look for visible cracks, splits or vertical seams in the bark — these may indicate internal failure
- Check for cavities or hollow sections, particularly where old branches have been removed
- Look for weeping wounds — areas where sap, slime or liquid is oozing from the bark, which may indicate bacterial disease
- Check for bracket fungi growing directly from the trunk (a serious sign of decay)
- Look for swelling, bulging or unusual constriction in the trunk profile
- Assess the lean of the trunk — all trees lean slightly, but a sudden or pronounced lean needs investigation
3. Assess the Crown and Branches
By late March and April, deciduous trees should be showing bud burst and new leaf growth. The crown tells you a great deal about a tree's health.
- Are all branches leafing up? Sections of canopy that fail to produce leaves by late April may be dead
- Look for dead branches — brittle, with no buds, often with loose or flaking bark
- Check for crossing or rubbing branches that are causing bark damage
- Look for signs of dieback in the tips of branches (progressive dying from the tips inward)
- Assess whether the crown is balanced — heavy one-sided growth increases failure risk
- Look for any branches hanging over your house, outbuildings or boundaries
4. Look for Signs of Pest and Disease
Spring is when many pest and disease problems become apparent. In Dorset and Hampshire, watch out in particular for:
- Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus): Wilting shoots, dark lesions on bark and diamond-shaped lesions at branch junctions. Ash trees throughout Dorset are heavily affected.
- Oak Processionary Moth (OPM): White silken nests in oak trees, hairy caterpillars in processions. More commonly seen in southern England including Hampshire. Nests are a health hazard — do not touch.
- Phytophthora root rot: Bleeding cankers at the base, discoloured wood beneath bark, yellowing leaves. Affects beech, horse chestnut and other species.
- Honey Fungus: Clusters of honey-coloured toadstools around the base in autumn (but white mycelial sheets visible under bark year-round). One of the most damaging tree diseases in the UK.
5. Check for Storm Damage from Winter
Dorset's winter winds can inflict damage that isn't immediately obvious — particularly to the upper crown or in dense hedgerows where the extent of breakage is hidden.
- Look for broken branches that are still attached — these are particularly dangerous as they can fall without warning
- Check for any branches caught in the crown ("hung up" branches) from winter storms
- Look for splits at major branch unions that may have widened under winter loading
- Check any trees near structures or boundaries for movement or lean that has worsened since autumn
What to Do If You Find a Problem
If your inspection reveals any of the above warning signs, the right course of action depends on the severity:
- Suspected imminent failure (leaning, cracked trunk, hung-up branches): Call Clearcut's emergency line on 01202 022560 immediately and keep people away from the tree.
- Dead branches or one-sided canopy: Book a tree survey and deadwood removal service — not urgent, but shouldn't be left beyond the summer.
- Signs of disease: Book a tree consultancy assessment. Identifying disease early can save the tree and prevent spread to neighbouring trees.
- Overhanging branches: Book a crown lifting or crown reduction — but do this before May to avoid the nesting season.
When You Need a Professional Tree Survey
A homeowner inspection is a useful first step, but it is not a substitute for a professional tree survey by a qualified arborist. You should book a professional survey if:
- Your tree is large, old or of a species that commonly suffers structural failure
- Your tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) — you'll need a professional assessment before any work can proceed
- You're buying or selling a property with significant trees
- You're a developer or builder requiring a BS5837 tree survey for planning purposes
- You've noticed any of the warning signs above but are unsure of the severity
Clearcut Tree Surgery provides professional tree surveys and consultancy across Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Hampshire. Call 01202 022560 or request a free quote online.
