Major factors affecting tree stability (after Coder 2010).
| Factor | Attributes to resist windthrow |
|---|---|
| Soil | Soil must resist fracture and remain dryer than its plastic limit |
| Windward roots | Longest 2–3 major windward roots must resist pulling out and breaking in tension; they must resist snapping in sheer |
| Mass of tree | Weight of the tree, including both aboveground mass and root plate mass, must be sufficiently great |
| Leeward roots | Leeward roots must resist buckling or hinging in compression and snapping in sheer |
| Root plate | Stem base and large roots must provide a wide stiff supporting platform that resists splitting |