The last thing anyone wants is one of the trees on their property to die. However, there are all sorts of reasons why trees die. Sometimes, when your tree looks dead, it is actually only dormant. Determining whether your tree is dead or is in a dormant state can be difficult. It is important to be able to tell the difference between the two so that you don’t accidentally remove a tree that is still alive and is just dormant. Tree Craft Tree Service is here to share some tips to help you determine the health of your tree.

Tips to Find Out if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant

If you are wondering whether or not your tree is still alive, there are several tests you can do to determine dormancy or death. Here are some things you can try:
– Buds: A good indication of whether or not your tree is still alive is found in the crown of the tree. You need to take a close look at the branches to see if there are buds on any of them. Your trees will start to show signs of new growth with buds long before they wake up in the spring. If your tree is dead, you will see no new growth on the branches.
– Scratch & Snap: Another test that is helpful in deciding if the tree is alive or not is the scratch or snap test. When you bend the branch of a tree, it should simply bend. If it snaps, you know that there isn’t any growth or life left in the tree. You can also scratch the branches to see if you can see any green under the top layer bark. If you don’t, there is a good chance that at least that branch is dead.
– Tree Roots: You can tell a lot about the health of a tree by the condition of its roots. When you look at the roots, you shouldn’t see any sign of decay. You can also look for the presence of fungi as this can be part of the decomposition of a tree that is dead as well.
– Tree Trunk: It can be helpful to look at the trunk of the tree as well. You shouldn’t see any cracks, splits, wounds or decay on the trunk. This can mean that that tree is in trouble if it isn’t already dead. The trunk should also be consistent in diameter without any shrinking or swelling if it is healthy.
– Bark: A normal tree will shed its bark regularly as part of its normal life cycle. If a tree is dead, it won’t be able to do this, and you might see discoloration or peeling as a result.

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If you are concerned about a tree on your property, you can call on Tree Craft Tree Service to come take a look. We will inspect the tree and help you determine its health. If the tree needs to be removed, we will take care of it as well as any of your tree care needs. Call us today!