As autumn sets in and winter approaches, most trees will go dormant to help conserve energy. Leaves are shed in an effort to save energy in the fall– this is what is known as a dormant stage. While in a dormant state, your trees are not dead — although growth is halted for the season. Generally, when a tree dies, the leaves will turn brown, but they do not fall to the surface below.
Dead Or Dormant
If you don’t know how to determine if a plant is dead or dormant, you aren’t alone. There are some easy-to-do tests available to find out the current state of a tree. During the spring, plants will bloom making it rather simple to tell if a tree is alive as it will display green leaves. In the fall, the leaves will shed. So how can you determine if your trees are dead or alive? Find out below.
#1: Look at the Buds
Even during a dormant stage, a tree will produce new buds from its crown. These buds are a clear indicator that the tree is dormant and not dead. Not all buds are green as they vary in color. Different variations of trees have different color buds like brown and deep red. If the tree has died, there will not be any buds present on the stems or throughout the tree.
#2: The Snap-Snatch Test
The snap-snatch test is used to find green cambium that will exist even if a tree is in dormant state. Cambium can be found under the bark and will appear fresh and green. To conduct this test, make a small hole using a knife to locate the cambium of the tree. If the cambium layer is green, the tree is dormant. If the layer beneath the bark is dry, you will know that the tree is dead.
#3: Check Out the Bark
Just like buds on a tree can be used to determine if a tree is alive or dead, so does the bark. Healthy trees will always shed their bark and replace old bark with new. Trees in poor health or that are dying, struggle to regenerate their bark.
#4: Assess the Roots and Soil Beneath the Tree
If a tree’s roots have become damaged or rotten, it can lead to its death. To determine if this is the case, pull back some mud that lies under the truck and assess the roots and soil. If you notice any damage or fungi on the root, then you should expect that the tree will die soon. Fungus and mushrooms growing at the bottom of the trunk is usually a clear indicator that the trunk is in some stage of decomposition.
#5: Inspect the Trunk
A tree’s trunk is vital as it contains all of the branches of the tree and supplies water from the roots to all of its branches and leaves. Inspect the trunk to see if your tree is dead or dormant.
Here are the things to look for:
- Dangerous cavities in the trunk
- Cracks and splits that can lead to breakage or the collapse of the tree
- Missing bark — this could be a sign of fungi
- Signs that the tree was struck by lightning, like a long streak of missing bark, especially if the leaves are turning brown and not shedding
#6: Additional Tests to Assess a Tree’s State
There are a few other things you can do to determine if a tree is dead or dormant.
- Deep cavities at the base of the tree can be an indication that the tree has missing wood at the ground.
- Dead branches close to the tree is a sign that it is approaching death.
- Sawdust at the tree base indicates the presence of termites and ants meaning the tree could collapse at any time.
When Does A Dead Tree Become Hazardous?
Trees can beautify your lawn when they are healthy and thriving, but when one begins to show signs that it is near death, you should consider removing it. A dead tree in your lawn has the potential to fall over and damage your property, neighboring properties, or hurt a loved one or pet. Should the tree collapse on a person or their property, you might be forced to pay for unexpected repairs and medical expenses. Dead branches may fall and hurt someone or knock down important utility lines– it just isn’t worth the risk to keep a dead tree.
Can Dead Tree Roots Kill Your Grass?
Some trees have roots that grow above the surface. In such a situation, these roots can kill the grass that is growing around the root. Your lawn mower can also be damaged when you mow should you hit a surface level root. If the tree is growing close to the sidewalk or pathway, it could potentially crack the hardscape posing a risk for passersby. If you put off taking care of roots that have grown above the surface it can become quite problematic down the road, so we suggest contacting a professional to fix the issue.
Why Should You Remove Dead Trees?
There are several reasons to cut down a dead or dying tree. Here are a few:
- Dead trees are hazardous to those that get anywhere near them. Dead branches could fall at any moment; the entire tree itself is unpredictable.
- Dead trees that are leaning on or over any structures
- Dead trees in areas that are frequented by people like in parks or parking lots
- You notice that it is attracting pests such as ants or termites.
- It is infested with a disease that could spread to nearby healthy plants.
Dead trees can be a true eyesore whether it be the tree itself or the damage that it causes to your hardscapes. Removing a tree is easy and affordable so there is no need to wait until the problem worsens before you call in the professionals. Every year trees in our region become dormant; this is a natural part of their life cycle. Pruning your trees during their dormant phase is a great way to encourage the growth of new branches. But if you think a tree on your property is dead, you need to have it removed as soon as possible to avoid running into bigger issues. We provide tree removal, pruning services, and much more.
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About A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping
A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping can beautify your lawn and landscaping using our vast experience in turf grass management. Our complete lawn service is designed for both residential and commercial lawns and we keep your lawn healthy without harming your family, staff, or pets.