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Is My Tree Dead or Dormant? Here’s How To Tell the Difference

Sometimes, dead and dormant trees look eerily similar. Many Kentucky property owners struggle to tell which is which. During a walk in the dead of winter, you might come across a bare skeletal tree and wonder, “Is my tree dead or dormant?”

As the leading tree service in Louisville, KY, Tree Care Inc. can quickly identify variances between dormant and dead trees. We’ll show you how to differentiate below. 

Beware: Dormant Doesn’t Mean Dead!

Winter weather often makes most deciduous trees appear dead. Only evergreen conifers retain green, needle-like foliage, signaling life. How can you tell whether the trees in your yard are dormant or not?

Understanding Dormancy

When trees go dormant, they sleep much like people do. Most above-ground growth halts, and their root systems decrease the nourishment transferred to the trunk and leaves. This causes the trees to lose their leaves in the fall.

Other dormant tree signs include:

  • Sturdy, flexible limbs and stems: Stems of dormant trees are strong and green on the inside. The limbs should feel firmly attached to the trunk. 
  • Foliage falling at the correct time: Don’t worry about trees losing leaves during fall. They are preparing for a winter’s sleep. 
  • Tiny leaf buds: You might notice tiny growths at the tips of the stems. The growths are new leaves waiting for spring’s warmth to burst forth. 
  • No other signs of new damage: If your tree looks largely the same with no new wounds or decay, it’s likely doing well and has no new health concerns. 

Even when you can’t find immediate signs of life, you can find them lurking just beneath the surface. 

How Death Looks Different

Now that you know how a dormant tree looks, explore some dead tree symptoms to learn the difference. “Is my tree dead or dormant?” you ask. Look for:

  • Bark shedding: The bark encasing the trunk easily peels away from the heartwood. It might even shed without assistance. 
  • New wounds or cavities: You might notice new signs of wood decay or open wounds that allow opportunistic infections to gain a foothold. 
  • Signs of pest or disease proliferation: Look for small holes that might indicate penetration by termites or boring beetles. You might also find mushroom growths or other oddities on the specimen’s tissues. 
  • Dry wood: Deadwood is dry and brittle, whereas living wood is moist, flexible, and resists breakage. 
  • Dead leaves that still cling to the limbs: Leaves fall from healthy trees on their own. Meanwhile, a dead or dying tree won’t release the leaves, allowing them to cling to their branches. 

Is My Tree Dormant or Dead?

“Is my tree dead or dormant? Should I remove it?” First, learn more about the parts of a tree, how they indicate health or disease, and how you can test for health during winter. You’ll find a few simple tree evaluations below. 

#1 Consider the Season

Summer and spring mean fresh, new growth bursting forth from the tree branches. Your specimens will likely either blossom or produce vibrant foliage during these seasons. If they don’t, they may have died from disease or other problems. 

#2 Scratch the Bark or Cut a Twig

Many property owners struggle to identify a living or dead tree during fall and winter; however, living trees have a few constants. They retain enough moisture in stems and bark to prevent shedding or breakage. Using a sterilized pocket knife, gently scratch the surface bark or cut a small twig from a branch. 

You should see the moist, green heartwood just beneath the protective layer. The moisture and greenery indicate a living specimen. 

#3 Look for Fresh Growth

Carefully examine the tips of a branch. You should notice tiny, cone-shaped formations at the end of each twig. These formations are new leaves that haven’t opened yet. 

The shapes, sizes, and colors of these buds may vary depending on the tree species. Look up “leaf buds in winter” on a search engine to view variations of common species. 

#4 Assess the Tree

Check for signs of obvious wounds, infections, or pestilence. If large areas of exposed heartwood look dull and dry, the tree is likely dead. You might also easily pull away a piece of bark and discover a prolific insect infestation. 

Look for fungal growths near the tree’s base, too. You might notice turkey tails flourishing on lower branches or the trunk.

You may also discover mushrooms on or near the roots. These fungi feast on deadwood and the nutrients it gives the surrounding soil as the tree breaks down. 

#5 Bend a Branch

Finally, you can always tell the difference between a struggling tree and a thriving one by how easily its branches break. Grab the lowermost branch you can reach and gently tug. Healthy branches, even thin ones, might bend a little, but they won’t readily break or crack.  

Dead branches, on the other hand, are dehydrated and will almost immediately snap. Even large, seemingly strong boughs will give in to the weight of your pull. 

What To Do if the Tree Is Dead

So, you’ve determined that the tree is dead because:

  • It dropped or failed to grow leaves during the growing seasons. 
  • Brown, dead leaves still cling to the branches during fall and winter.
  • You can’t access the green, moist heartwood beneath the bark.
  • You can’t find any fresh buds on the tips of the twigs.
  • Branches easily break, no matter their size. 

What should you do about it? The next step involves contacting a local tree service to evaluate and remove the tree. Tree removal eliminates hazards and disease vectors, which, ultimately, protects your property and other nearby specimens. 

Still Not Sure? Contact Tree Care Inc.

“Is my tree dead or dormant? I still can’t tell!” Tree Care Inc. can spot the differences. We can also determine whether a half-dead tree can be saved. Call (502) 326-3661 to get a free estimate for your tree services in Louisville, Kentucky, and surrounding communities. We can’t wait to help you maintain your personal forest! 

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