Internal decay is often hard to spot from the ground. A tree can look solid on the outside while the inside is breaking down. The arborists at ECTW look for subtle warning signs — things like fungal brackets (mushroom-like growths) on the trunk, sawdust or frass collecting at the base, soft or spongy patches in the bark, or visible cavities. These indicators usually mean there’s decay deeper in the timber. A professional assessment is the safest way to know for sure.