How to tell if a tree is dead or dying

A dead tree is a tree whose trunk and branches no longer carry water and nutrients. A dying tree is on its way there. Something is cutting off its water, food or structure. Both can look alike from the street.

Below are the common signs, three safe checks from the ground, and when a dead tree becomes a danger.

There are six common signs: no leaves in season, bark falling off, dead branches, fungus at the base, cracks and hollows, and a lean with lifted soil. One sign alone is a reason to look closer. Two or three together usually mean real trouble. If you want a crew to look, here is a tree service in Memphis that does free estimates.

1. No leaves in season

A tree that stays bare in summer while the trees around it are green is the clearest sign. Bare in winter is normal for most hardwoods, so use the dormant check below first. Late bud break, small leaves and scorched foliage are early warnings.

2. Bark falling off

Bark that sloughs off in patches can mean the wood under it is dead. Large crusty fungal mats pushing through the bark are a sign of hypoxylon canker, and trees often die fast once those mats form.

3. Dead branches

Bare upper branches or tips that never leaf out can point to root trouble, decay or a disease blocking water. Dead and hanging limbs are also a falling hazard. Dead branches on one side can mean damage to that side of the trunk or roots.

4. Fungus at the base

Mushrooms or shelf fungus on the trunk, on branches or on the ground around the base are a sign of decay inside. Trees in advanced decline with fungus showing are often better taken down than kept.

5. Cracks and hollows

Large cracks, open wounds and cavities in the trunk or main limbs mean decay has weakened the structure.

6. Leaning with lifted soil

A tree leaning 30 degrees or more is a hazard when something sits in its fall path. Cracked or heaved soil around the base, buckled bark and decay at the root collar mean the roots may be letting go.

Sources: UGA Extension, Hazardous trees, Tennessee Division of Forestry on hypoxylon canker, NC State Extension, Is my tree dying.

Many of these signs come from a disease.

Piling mulch against the trunk can keep roots from growing out, and circling roots can then squeeze the trunk over time. One extension horticulturist says the base of the trunk is where he finds most problems in big shade trees.

Sources: NC State Extension, Is my tree dying, University of Illinois Extension on the trunk base, Memphis Area Master Gardeners on mulch.

When is a dead tree dangerous?

A dead tree is dangerous when it can hit something if it falls, such as a house, a driveway, a fence, a play area or a power line. The closer it stands to those, the sooner it should be dealt with.

Standing dead trees decay and can drop limbs or fall with little warning. Dead, broken or hanging branches are falling hazards too, and so are limbs caught up in a neighboring tree. A lean of 30 degrees or more matters most when something is in the fall path. A tree with fungus showing, or one that is clearly unstable, should not wait through another storm.

If a limb or tree is on or near power lines, stay well back and do not touch it. In Memphis, report downed or sparking wires to MLGW at (901) 528-4465. For a power outage, call (901) 544-6500. Call 911 for fire or injury.

If you want it taken down, see our tree removal page. If it has already come down on a roof, start with what to do when a tree falls on your house.

Sources: UGA Extension, Hazardous trees, MLGW downed power lines, MLGW outage reporting.

What does it cost to remove a dead tree?

The price depends on the job, so we do not quote a number here. Size, how close the tree is to a house or lines, how easy it is to reach, and whether a crane is needed all change it. A free on-site estimate gives you one price in writing before any work.

Is the tree dead or asleep for winter?

Most hardwoods drop their leaves and sleep in winter, so a bare tree is not dead by itself. The way to tell is to check the twigs and buds. Green under the bark of a twig means it is alive. A year-old twig that snaps when bent to a right angle is most likely dead. Dry buds on new twigs point to death, and green buds mean life.

Still unsure? Wait until the trees around it leaf out in spring. A live tree may just need more time.

What does a scratch test show?

A scratch test shows whether the layer just under the bark is alive. Scratch a small spot with your thumbnail or a knife. If it is green and moist, that part is alive. If it is brown and dry, that part is dead. Test low twigs on several branches.

Sources: NC State Extension, Is my tree dying.

What tree diseases show up as dead branches?

Several do. Hypoxylon canker, oak wilt and bacterial leaf scorch all show up as dieback in the crown. The pattern tells them apart, but it takes a trained eye to be sure.

Hypoxylon canker dies back from the top down. Oak wilt browns leaves from the tips and edges in the upper crown, and early signs are often mistaken for drought. Leaf scorch starts on one branch and spreads through the crown over several years. Drought can look similar, so a guess from the street is not enough.

Sources: Tennessee Division of Forestry on hypoxylon canker, Tennessee Division of Forestry on oak wilt, UT Extension on bacterial leaf scorch.

Can a dying tree be saved?

Sometimes, but only an arborist can say after looking at it. It depends on the cause and how much living wood is left. Some problems can be managed. Others, like bacterial leaf scorch, have no cure, and replacement is the long-term answer.

For stress-related decline, the care that helps is simple: deep watering across the whole drip line, about 1 to 2 inches a week in drought, a thin layer of mulch 1 to 3 inches deep that stays off the trunk, and no heavy nitrogen feeding. A tree with fungus on the trunk is often past saving.

Look for an arborist in Memphis to evaluate it. Some arborists also hold ISA’s TRAQ credential, which covers judging how likely a tree is to fail and what it would hit.

Sources: Tennessee Division of Forestry on hypoxylon canker, UT Extension on bacterial leaf scorch, UGA Extension, Hazardous trees, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.