7 Signs Your Tree Won’t Survive Summer Storm Season in Kansas City

How to spot trouble early and protect your home before the weather turns wild.

Summer storms in Kansas City are no joke. Between strong winds, heavy rain, and rapid temperature swings, our local trees take a beating. Most of the time, trees bounce back just fine — but every year, we see certain trees that simply can’t handle the stress. And the surprising part? The warning signs usually show up in spring long before the storms hit.

If you’re wondering whether a tree on your property is strong enough to make it through KC’s storm season, here are seven clear signs it may not.

1. You Notice Deadwood Throughout the Canopy

Deadwood is the tree’s version of “I’m not sending nutrients here anymore.”
A few small dead twigs are normal. But if you’re seeing:

• Multiple dead branches

• Entire dead sections

• Dry, brittle limbs that snap easily

…it means the tree is struggling internally. Deadwood is also the first thing wind will rip away during summer storms.

Spring is the best time to remove it — and to find out why it’s happening in the first place.

2. The Tree Has Visible Decay or Rot

Decay often hides in plain sight. You might see:

• Mushrooms or fungal conks at the base

• Soft or spongy wood

• Hollow pockets

• Dark, weeping areas on the trunk

Decay doesn’t always mean a tree needs to come down immediately, but it does mean the structural integrity is compromised. Kansas City storm winds are tough on trees with internal rot, so this is a sign to take seriously.

3. The Tree Is Leaning More Than Before

A natural lean is perfectly fine — many trees grow that way.
But if the tree is leaning more than it did last year, that’s a sign of movement underground.

Leaning changes become more noticeable in spring when:

• New growth appears on only one side

• Soil looks disturbed or mounded

• The tree seems off balance

In KC’s wet spring and stormy summers, soil movement can make leaning trees unstable fast.

4. The Soil Around the Tree Is Heaving or Lifting

This is one of the most overlooked signs homeowners miss.

Soil heaving looks like:

• A mound forming near the base

• The ground lifting on one side

• Cracks in the soil around the trunk

• Roots becoming more visible than last year

This usually means the root plate is shifting.
And if the root plate is shifting… the tree is losing its anchor.

KC’s saturated spring soils make this more common than people realize.

5. You See Cracks in the Trunk or Major Branches

Cracks are like fractures in a bone — they weaken the entire structure.

Common spring cracks include:

• Vertical splits

• Tight cracks near limb junctions

• Fresh openings caused by winter ice

These cracks expand as the tree takes on new spring growth. And once summer winds arrive, cracked limbs or trunks are some of the first to fail.

6. Fungus, Pests, or Insects Are Showing Up Early

In Kansas City, early signs of pests or fungus can indicate stress.

Things to watch for:

• Powdery mildew

• Ants or carpenter ants on the trunk

• Fungal growth

• Early leaf spots

• Bark falling off in sections

When a tree is already weakened, pests aren’t the problem — they’re the symptom.

7. The Canopy Looks Uneven or Out of Balance

A healthy canopy is evenly shaped, full, and consistent.
A struggling tree might have:

• One side that won’t fill out

• Thin or sparse growth on top

• Heavy weight on one side

• Bare branches next to full ones

This imbalance makes the tree more vulnerable in high winds.
Spring is the easiest time to assess canopy health before everything reaches full size.

Why Spring Is the Time to Check Your Trees in Kansas City

Spring exposes structural issues, winter damage, and early signs of decline — things that get hidden once the canopy fills in. That’s why early inspections matter.

A spring evaluation can help you:

• Identify which trees are strong

• Catch early decline before storms intensify

• Decide whether a tree needs trimming, support, or removal

• Improve safety around your home

• Give struggling trees a better chance at healthy summer growth

And the best part?
Most problems are easier and more affordable to fix now than later.

Need help assessing your trees before summer?

Cartwright Tree Care has been helping Kansas City homeowners care for their trees for over 25 years. Our certified arborists can walk your yard, identify risks, and give you simple, honest recommendations.

Let’s make sure your trees are ready for the season ahead