Print this page and walk your property with a pen. Ten to fifteen minutes with this tree check checklist for Amarillo TX homeowners shows you which trees need attention, gives you photos and notes for a more accurate quote and gives you records if you ever file an insurance claim. Do the walk in daylight, after any wind, and stay clear of anything near power lines.
Date of walk: ____________ Address or neighborhood: ______________________
1. Safety before you start
☐ Stay at least a few steps back from any tree that looks damaged. Do not stand under hanging limbs.
☐ Treat every wire near a tree as live. If a line is down or tangled in a tree, call 911 and Xcel Energy and leave it alone.
☐ Do not climb, cut or prop up a tree that looks unstable. Note it and move on.
2. Wind damage walk
Amarillo wind is constant, and on February 17, 2026, Xcel Energy reported gusts of up to 70 mph across the Panhandle. After any big wind, look for:
☐ Cracks or splits in the trunk or where large branches join the trunk.
☐ Broken limbs still hanging in the crown.
☐ Soil heaved or cracked near the base, or roots lifted or torn.
☐ A lean that is new or worse than before.
☐ Bark torn off or large wounds.
See wind-damaged trees in Amarillo TX if you find damage.
3. Trees near the house, driveway and lines
☐ Which trees could reach the house, garage, car or fence if they fell? Mark them.
☐ Any branches over the roof or touching siding or gutters?
☐ Any trees growing into or near an overhead line? Do not trim them. See trees near power lines in Amarillo TX.
☐ Any trees close to a play area, patio or parking spot?
4. Signs of poor health
☐ Large dead branches, especially in the top of the crown.
☐ Thin crown, small leaves or early fall color in summer.
☐ Mushrooms or shelf fungi at the base or on the trunk.
☐ Hollows, deep cavities or bark falling off in sheets.
☐ Elms: thinning crown, small round holes in the bark or wet seepage on the trunk. See elm trees in Amarillo TX.
Not sure if a tree is alive? See dead or dying tree in Amarillo TX.
5. Dry brush and fire risk
☐ Dead trees or dead branches close to the house.
☐ Dry brush, tall dry growth or overgrown fence lines near buildings.
☐ Piles of dry brush stacked against a structure. Take them to the brush sites promptly. See Amarillo brush sites and tree debris options.
☐ Scorched trees after a grass fire. See fire-damaged trees in Amarillo TX.
6. Photos to take for a quote
☐ The whole tree from a distance, so the height and surroundings show.
☐ The base of the trunk and the soil around it.
☐ Close-ups of any cracks, wounds, fungus or dead limbs.
☐ The tree in relation to the house, fence and any lines.
☐ Access to the tree: gates, driveways and anything a truck would need to pass.
7. Records for your insurer
☐ Photos or video with the date of any storm damage, taken before anything is moved.
☐ Notes on who you spoke to at the insurance company and when.
☐ Receipts for emergency repairs, tarping and tree work.
For what coverage usually looks like, see does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Amarillo TX.
8. Ready for a quote
If you checked any boxes in sections 2 through 5, have a professional look at the tree. A hazardous tree assessment in Amarillo TX sorts trees into leave it, fix it or take it down. When you are ready, request a free tree service quote in Amarillo TX and attach your photos and notes. For typical price ranges, see the tree removal cost guide for Amarillo TX, which gives estimates only.