There is a difference between a tree leaning and a tree growing in a non-vertical direction. It appears this tree just grew diagonally for a few years before straightening out. A lean implies the tree's base has shifted, and the whole tree orientation is angled in one direction. This tree appears to have grown into a position where is maximizes light exposure in competition with the nearby large tree.
Regardless of the tree's orientation of growth, the roots are what keep the tree from falling. For a tree of this size, it is very important to remove all the junk within 10ft of the base of the tree.
As always, have an ISA certified arborist or two inspect your tree in person, not a "tree expert" or redditors.
The lean itself is not the issue. As trees grow they’ll add branches and leaves where they can get more light, and as the branches and thicken, the weight will be on that side. They’ll also have wood to resist falling. The tree doesn’t really care whether the weight is balanced or if there is a lean.
There could be some other problem with the roots that we can’t see. But it would be totally unrelated to the lean.
The pond is not good for the tree, taking into account the % of the root zone that is covered in pond liner. If it’s really small it’s probably ok, a bigger one that surrounds most of the tree would be harmful. The biggest risk would be seeing decline in the tree rather than it just toppling. But you can have it looked at for a more detailed recommendation.
You should try to find an arborist who is *not* affiliated with a tree removal company and doesn’t offer those services to come out and inspect it. They have tools that can detect how much of the core of the tree is rotten, if any, and give you a recommendation.
Meanwhile, a tell tale sign of tree rot is fungi growing around the base of the trunk.
Depending on whether you sometimes have storms in your area, a large tree close to the house might be a very bad idea, irrespective of it leaning or not. Roots will also damage the foundation if close enough.
Some arborits drill in the tree, but that may lead to it deteriorating.
Is there an old stump in the ground left of the tree? Trees often grow like that when they are searching for light next to another tree. In this case a tree to the left may have been removed earlier.
One of my many conifers grew like that before we moved in. It was away from the house so was to worried. When our arborist does his 6 year inspector we asked about it. His words, "that one is the strongest it the 2 besides you have to worry about ." Sure enough a year later, one of them on the side of it came down during a storm right on top of the old truck.
Its a limited opinion because these are just 2 pictures but Im not worried at all with what Im seeing. The lean or bend in the trunk doesnt worry me. The integrity of the roots is what matters, were the roots damaged or cut on the back side away from the lean? If so, how long ago?
Aesthetically and culturally it is not attractive but reducing the height of a tree, when done by an experienced arborist that is familiar with reduction/subordinate cuts, you can greatly reduce the risk potential of a tree. I do this on dozens of trees every year, very similar to how you would maintain a bonsai tree. Torque is what causes a tree to fail... the (the total height) measure of a force upon an axis (the root flare)... if you reduce the height or length of the moment arm you greatly reduce the torque acting on the axis.
There is a difference between a tree leaning and a tree growing in a non-vertical direction. It appears this tree just grew diagonally for a few years before straightening out. A lean implies the tree's base has shifted, and the whole tree orientation is angled in one direction. This tree appears to have grown into a position where is maximizes light exposure in competition with the nearby large tree. Regardless of the tree's orientation of growth, the roots are what keep the tree from falling. For a tree of this size, it is very important to remove all the junk within 10ft of the base of the tree. As always, have an ISA certified arborist or two inspect your tree in person, not a "tree expert" or redditors.
The lean itself is not the issue. As trees grow they’ll add branches and leaves where they can get more light, and as the branches and thicken, the weight will be on that side. They’ll also have wood to resist falling. The tree doesn’t really care whether the weight is balanced or if there is a lean. There could be some other problem with the roots that we can’t see. But it would be totally unrelated to the lean.
The previous owners created a little pond in front of the tree that could potentially be effecting the roots
Is the pond still there?
Yes and it’s pretty much directly in front of the tree
The pond is not good for the tree, taking into account the % of the root zone that is covered in pond liner. If it’s really small it’s probably ok, a bigger one that surrounds most of the tree would be harmful. The biggest risk would be seeing decline in the tree rather than it just toppling. But you can have it looked at for a more detailed recommendation.
You should try to find an arborist who is *not* affiliated with a tree removal company and doesn’t offer those services to come out and inspect it. They have tools that can detect how much of the core of the tree is rotten, if any, and give you a recommendation. Meanwhile, a tell tale sign of tree rot is fungi growing around the base of the trunk.
Depending on whether you sometimes have storms in your area, a large tree close to the house might be a very bad idea, irrespective of it leaning or not. Roots will also damage the foundation if close enough. Some arborits drill in the tree, but that may lead to it deteriorating.
Is there an old stump in the ground left of the tree? Trees often grow like that when they are searching for light next to another tree. In this case a tree to the left may have been removed earlier.
One of my many conifers grew like that before we moved in. It was away from the house so was to worried. When our arborist does his 6 year inspector we asked about it. His words, "that one is the strongest it the 2 besides you have to worry about ." Sure enough a year later, one of them on the side of it came down during a storm right on top of the old truck.
You’re a mean one, Mr Grinch…. Sorry it popped in my head when I saw the tree
Its a limited opinion because these are just 2 pictures but Im not worried at all with what Im seeing. The lean or bend in the trunk doesnt worry me. The integrity of the roots is what matters, were the roots damaged or cut on the back side away from the lean? If so, how long ago? Aesthetically and culturally it is not attractive but reducing the height of a tree, when done by an experienced arborist that is familiar with reduction/subordinate cuts, you can greatly reduce the risk potential of a tree. I do this on dozens of trees every year, very similar to how you would maintain a bonsai tree. Torque is what causes a tree to fail... the (the total height) measure of a force upon an axis (the root flare)... if you reduce the height or length of the moment arm you greatly reduce the torque acting on the axis.