Is my tree dead or dormant? You’ll often find yourself asking this question during winter. While your tree is in a dormant state, it’s not dead.
Its growth has just taken a break for the season. When spring arrives, it’ll bounce back as good as new. In this blog post, an expert tree service in Clemson, SC, delves deeper into tree death and dormancy to help you know the difference.
What’s Dormancy All About?
Dormancy is when a tree’s metabolism slows down and leaf production stops. This state starts when a deciduous tree sheds its leaves in fall until new buds develop in spring. Certain tree species may become dormant during drought or when under severe stress.
Dormancy ensures protection from the cold weather and diminished water availability. Your tree may appear dead during this period. Hence the question: Is my tree dead or dormant?
Five Ways To Tell Whether Your Tree Is Dead or Dormant
Below are a few easy-to-do tests to determine if a tree is dead or just dormant:
1. Check the Buds
Trees still produce buds from their crown during dormancy. If you see these buds, your tree isn’t dead but dormant. You won’t see any buds on a dead tree.
2. Assess the Bark Condition
Healthy trees often shed their old bark and a new one develops. If your tree is unhealthy or dying, it’ll have a hard time regenerating its bark.
3. Perform the Snap-Snatch or Scratch Test
A tree always has its green cambium even in the dormant state. You can find the cambium through the snap-snatch test. It should be fresh and green.
Using a knife, cut a small hole in your tree to locate its cambium. Is the cambium layer green?
If so, the tree is dormant. For a dead tree, the layer beneath the bark will be dry and brown.
4. Assess the Root Health
Is my tree dead or dormant? Decayed or damaged roots can lead to a tree’s death. How do you tell if this is the problem?
Brush away dirt from the base of the trunk and evaluate the roots. Do they exhibit any damage or fungal growth?
If so, the tree’s days are numbered. Mushrooms and fungus growing below the trunk often indicate that the trunk is decomposing.
5. Assess the Trunk
The trunk plays an integral role in your tree’s growth and health. It supports all the branches and transports water from the roots to other parts of the tree. Here are a few things to check to determine if your tree is dormant or dead:
- Missing bark, which may indicate fungal infection
- Severe cavities in the trunk
- Splits and cracks that can cause the tree to split or collapse
- Foliage browning with no leaf drop
You can also tell if a tree is dead or dormant by checking branch flexibility. A dormant tree has flexible branches, while if the tree is dead, branches will snap.
Top Five Reasons To Remove Dead Trees
Is my tree dead or dormant? Now that you know how to determine if your tree is dead, look for these signs to determine if you should remove it:
- The tree is hazardous to the people around it. Dead branches or the entire tree may fall without a warning.
- The dead tree is leaning on or over your building.
- You’ve noticed ants or other pests on the tree.
Contact Your Local Tree Professionals for Assistance
Is my tree dead or dormant? Is my tree rotten? If you need help with such questions, Clark Tree Experts is your trusted arborist in Clemson, SC. We offer various services including:
- Tree Risk Assessment
- Tree Trimming & Pruning
- Tree Removal
Call us at (706) 776-8733 to request a free estimate today!