I have a 30-foot tree at the far corner of my front yard that I'm concerned is or may become a hazard due to its lean (see attached picture). I've crudely measured the lean angle as 25 degrees. The lean doesn't seem to have increased in the five years we've owned this house (Los Angeles area).
Is this a slam-dunk for removal due to the lean, or might an appropriate inspection judge it OK? Wish I knew the species, but I don't. It's a common tree around here. I'm biased towards removal and replacement for other reasons as well, such as the exposed roots in a prominent location and a lopsided crown from a former adjacent tree that grew into it.

Steve

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cngsteve,

1_-_Tree_and_8_ft_wall.JPG (30 Kb, 68 downloads) Leaning tree

I can’t tell what species the tree is, Steve. However, it doesn’t appear that it poses a serious problem. The tree has been in place for a while, and looks generally healthy. It is still relatively small and young. The way the trunk sweeps upward indicates that the tree shifted years ago, maybe after planting. Since trees prefer to grow upward, it gradually turned its growth, causing the trunk to curve.

Since it has grown this way for sometime now, it has probably developed a stronger root system to support the weight. Like a weight-lifter, it builds strength when it gets the most work, in this case on the back side away from the lean. The trunk and roots will be thicker there.

As long as the tree stays healthy it should be OK. Find a local ISA Certified Arborist to check it, and have it inspected every few years to be sure it remains stable. You can find certified arborists at the International Society of Arboriculture. Follow links to Certified Arborists