A hollow tree doesn’t always need to be removed. Many trees live for years with a cavity, and whether one becomes a hazard depends on how large the hollow is, how much solid wood surrounds it and what the tree could hit if it failed.
A cavity is a reason to have the tree assessed, not an automatic reason to cut it down. The details make the difference between a tree that can stay and one that may need hazardous tree removal.
Why Trees Become Hollow
Hollows usually form when decay enters through an old wound, such as a broken branch, a pruning cut or damage to the trunk. Over time, fungi break down the wood inside.
Trees have a natural ability to wall off decay, so a hollow can stay the same size for a long time. In other trees, the decay keeps spreading.
When a Hollow Tree May Still Be Sound
The outer shell of wood carries much of a trunk’s strength. A tree with a small cavity and a thick, solid shell around it may be structurally fine.
A hollow in a branch rather than the main trunk may be managed by removing that branch. A tree with a cavity but a full, healthy canopy may also be a candidate for monitoring rather than removal.
When a Hollow May Point to a Bigger Problem
Some signs can be reasons for further assessment. These include a very large opening, a thin shell of sound wood, cracks running from the cavity, a lean toward a home or busy area, fungal growth on the trunk or at the base, and dieback in the canopy.
A hollow at the base of the tree or in the root area can be more concerning, because that’s where the tree carries its whole weight. Even so, these signs don’t prove the tree will fail on their own.
Getting It Checked
Judging how much sound wood is left isn’t something you can do reliably by tapping on the trunk. A trained assessor looks at the size and location of the cavity, the tree’s overall condition, its lean and what’s nearby.
Depending on what they find, options may include leaving the tree alone and checking it again later, removing weak branches, reducing weight on part of the crown or, in some cases, installing cabling or bracing to add support.
If the tree is badly weakened and stands where it could hit a house, driveway or play area, removing the hazardous tree may be the safer choice.
Don’t fill a cavity with concrete or foam on your own, and don’t climb a hollow tree. These steps can hide problems or put you at risk.
If you’ve found a hollow in a tree on your Joplin property, have it looked at so you know whether it can safely stay, needs some work or should come down.
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