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Most of the trees go idle in the winter season to save the energy. All the leaves are shed to conserve energy in the fall season; this state is called a dormant stage. In a dormant state, the tree is not dead; it just halts the growth for the season. Typically the leaves of a dead plant turn into brown color and are not shed by the tree.

Is My Tree Dead or Dormant?

Many people do not know how to check that if a plant is dormant or dead. Some simple tests can be done to find out the stage of a tree. In spring and autumn, the plants are blossoming, and it is easy to identify a live tree because the tree has green leaves. But in the fall season, the leaves are shed. So how to identify a dormant tree?

Tests to Confirm that a Tree is Dead or Alive

1. Check for the Buds

Even if the tree is in a dormant state, there would be buds coming out from the crown of the tree. These buds indicate that the tree is dormant. Buds can be of different colors and need not be only in green color. Some trees have dark red or brown buds. In the case of a dead tree, there would be no buds available on the stem or other parts of the tree.

2. The Snap-Scratch test to Find the Green Cambium

Even if the tree is in a dormant state, the cambium under the bark will be fresh and green. Just make a small hole with the help of a small knife to see the cambium of the tree. If the layer under the bark is dry, then you can decide that the plant is dead. If the cambium layer is green in color, then the tree is in a dormant state.

3. Inspect the Bark of the Tree

Like the buds of the tree, the bark also tells us that the tree is dead or dormant. A healthy plant always sheds its bark and replaces old bark with a new one. A poor or dying plants faces difficulties in regenerating the bark of the tree.

4. Check for the Roots and Soil under the Tree

The tree can also go into a deadly situation if the roots are rotten and damaged. Pull back some mud that is beneath the trunk and inspect the roots and soil. If there are damages or fungi on the root, then the tree is getting ready to die. Mushrooms or fungus growing at the bottom of the trunk is a strong indication of decay of the trunk.

5. Inspect the trunk

• The trunk is the essential part of the tree as it holds all the branches of the tree and supplies water from the roots to all branches and leaves. Check the trunk to see if the tree is dormant or dead.
• Cavities in the trunk can be dangerous for the plant.
• Cracks and splits on the trunk can lead to breakage or fall of the tree.
• Missing bark on the trunk is another indication that the tree is infected by fungus
• If there is a long streak of bark missing, the tree could be hit by lightning. There is a possibility that the tree recovers from the situation, but if the leaves have turned brown, the tree might have died.

6. Other Important Tests

• There are some other indications that you can check for the tree is dead or dormant.
• Deep Cavities at the ground of the tree are indications that the tree has missing wood at the ground.
• Dead branches found near the tree indicate that it is near to death.
• Sawdust at the tree base also indicates that the tree is the host for termites and ants which makes the tree to collapse at any time.

When is a Dead Tree Dangerous?

A healthy tree looks very beautiful in your yard, but if that tree is ready to die, then you should think of removing it. Many of us have questions like will dead trees fall, burn or can cause other irreparable damages. Let’s find answers for your queries.

A dead tree in your lawn can fall over and cause damages to your property or neighboring properties. If the tree falls on someone or other’s property you could face a situation of paying for the repairs and medical bills for the injuries caused. The dead branches also pose a risk of falling over the electric and telephone lines.

Can Dead Tree Roots Kill Grass Of Your Lawn?

Some of the trees have roots that grow above the surface. This root can kill the grass growing around the root. Also when you are mowing the lawn, the mower can be damaged when running over the roots. If the tree is growing near a pathway or sideways, then there is a danger that the root cracks the cement of the hardscapes. If not taken care the roots growing above the surface can cause severe problems for your yard, so you need to call a professional to solve the issue.

Why Remove a Dead Tree?

• Dead trees always pose a problem for somebody moving around. The dead branches might fall at any time, and you cannot predict what could happen for a dead tree. But there are some situations to consider before removing the dead tree.
• If the tree is leaning over your building or other structure, then remove it at once.
• If the tree is in an area that most of the people move around? Or is it a parking lot? Then the tree should be removed.
• If the tree is far away from your place and no problem even if it falls? Then you could leave the dead tree as it is. In time the dead tree could become a nesting place for many small animals.

Some Other Common Reasons that Make Dead Trees a Need to Be Cutdown.

• A dead tree attracts pests like termites and ants.
• It is easy to remove a tree immediately, and the cost of tree removal is low.
• Your yard loses its beauty if a dead tree is present.
• Your hardscape structures can also be at risk due to a dead tree.
• Diseases to other healthy trees are spread easily through dead trees.

Conclusion

The dormant state of a tree is a natural situation that every tree undergoes in its lifetime, aside from waiting for the climate to change you can do nothing for the tree. You could trim some of the branches to make a new place for the new branches to grow. If you think the tree in your yard is dead, get it removed fast to overcome the adverse effects that it may cause. Not sure that your tree is dead or dormant? Call Green Gold Landscaping at 914-882-5459 to get professional advice and help. We provide expert tree removal and pruning services along with lawn, landscape, and snow removal in Westchester NY and Greenwich CT areas. Contact us to get a free estimate now.