1. Do a visual inspection of upper canopy first to help determine decline in vigor.

2. Perform a visual inspection of any open cavities.

3. Do a visual inspection looking for evidence of past closed over cavities or wounds.

4. Determine the possibility of past damage from equipment to the root system.

5. If near a sidewalk, was past root pruning performed?

6. Pull away all debris from around base of tree.

7. Are any insects present? Ants, termites, sowbugs, slugs.

8. Is there any insect frass from exit holes? Fresh or old?

9.Carefully start pulling dirt away without damaging roots or trunk.

10. Probe and pull rather than impact for the soil and rock removal.

11. Try and determine the needed depth of excavation based on possible past fill.

12. Look for evidence of mushrooms or fungal strands in the soil and on the roots.

13. Look for punky root wood and compromised trunk.

14. Determine the angle of lean (if the tree leans) to analyze possible direction of fall.

15. Identify targets if the tree were to fall.

16. If the tree is hollow, try (if possible) to determine the extent of the decay.

17. Add up all the evidence collected to come up with the best possible conclusion as to what is needed to be done. Be careful with reasons of emotion and or historical significance in making your determination of action. Let the evidence tell the story.