As the cold weather approaches, dormant tees can begin to lose signs of life, making it difficult to decipher whether a tree is dead or not. Luckily, there are ways to tell the two apart. Armed with that knowledge you will not remove a healthy tree. Read on to learn how to tell the difference between a dead and a dormant tree.
Perform a Scratch or Snap Test
To perform a scratch test, all you’ll need is a pocketknife and a few branches. It’s recommended that you test more than one branch just in case you accidentally pick a dead branch, but the tree is still alive. Simply scratch the outer layer of the bark to reveal the second layer. A healthy or dormant tree will have a green layer under the bark, while a dead or dying tree will be brown underneath.
The snap test is just as simple; a healthy branch will have some give and will be harder to break. A dead tree branch will snap in half and be very obviously dry.
Inspect Branches for Signs of Life
While from a distance your tree may look dead, it’s best to get up close and inspect the branches for signs of life. Healthy trees, even during the fall and winter, will begin to prepare their buds for spring. If one or two branches look shriveled and lifeless, this may not present an issue. However, if most of the branches are dry, shriveled, or don’t have any buds, your tree may be in trouble.
Evaluate the Trunk
Removing dead trees from your yard is critical, and looking at the trunk of the tree can be a big tell, especially if the trunk looks unstable. Because the bark acts like the tree’s skin, if the trunk misses large chunks of bark and it is not regrowing, the flesh of the tree is vulnerable. A healthy tree will lose parts of its bark at times, but it should grow back consistently. If the trunk has lost large chunks of wood, has signs of insect infestation, or has large cracks, the tree is likely dead or dying.
Now that you know how to tell the difference between a dead and a dormant tree, you can go out there and take a survey of your yard! Remember, never try to remove a dead tree on your own. If you think your tree is dead or dying, call a professional to have them look, and make sure there are no potential hazards to you or your home.
