Your tree has been healthy and beautiful, and suddenly, it’s losing its leaves. You ask yourself, is my tree dead or dying?

You should realize that some trees go dormant as autumn sets in and winter arrives. They’ll shed their leaves during this period to conserve energy. During dormancy, your trees aren’t dead, even though they may look like they’re in trouble. But that still begs the question, “When is a tree considered dead?”

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to tell when your tree is dying or dead, as advised by Perkiomenville’s expert tree removal company.

Inspect the Leaves

Checking the leaves is perhaps the simplest way to tell whether your tree is dying or not. Deciduous trees lose their leaves at the end of the growing season, often in fall. On the other hand, evergreen trees stay green throughout the year.

If the leaves on a deciduous tree start drying or reduce in number before the end of the growing season, it indicates an imminent problem. You may also inspect the tree for weak branches or rotted parts.

For evergreen trees, you should be worried when they have brown needles or branches drying out at the top.

Check the Buds

A healthy tree will produce fresh buds from its crown, even in the dormant state. These buds are a sure sign that your tree is dormant rather than dead.

The buds appear in a variety of colors, not only green. If your tree is dead, it won’t have any buds on the stems or other parts.

Perform the Snap-Snatch Test

This quick test helps determine the presence of green cambium, which exists even when a tree is in the dormant stage. Cambium exists under the tree bark, and it appears green and fresh.

To perform this test, create a small hole with a knife to locate your tree’s cambium. Is the cambium green? If so, your tree is dormant. Consider your tree dead if the layer underneath the bark appears dry!

Look at the Bark

If you ask any experienced arborist, “When is a tree considered dead?” they won’t fail to mention the bark. A healthy tree will shed its old bark and generate a new layer. If your tree has poor health or is dying, it’ll have a hard time regenerating its bark.

Inspect the Roots

If the roots show signs of poor health, especially if they’re decaying, your tree could be dying. If you notice many mushrooms growing around your tree’s base, the chances are the roots are rotting.

Another sign of a dying tree is detached roots. Are the roots separating from the soil and lifting up? If so, your tree is dead, and it could fall any minute!

Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance

When is a tree considered dead? If you need professional help with this and other tree emergencies, turn to Beyond the Leaf Tree & Shrub Experts, your trusted local arborist.

We provide a wide range of services, including:

Tree Pruning
Tree Removal
Stump Grinding