Welcome back to the Bradley Tree and Landscaping blog! Here on the blog, we go to great heights to please you. Being in the winter time, one question we get asked a lot is, “How can i tell if my tree is dead in the winter?”
And we can’t blame those homeowners, a living tree in the winter kind of resembles a dead one at a glance because of all the leaves having fallen. Springtime is coming up, and trees need to conserve energy to bloom! Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to check on the health of your trees, even in winter.
Is My Tree Dormant or Dead?
Keep an Eye Out for Buds
- When trees are simply dormant, they tend to have small leaf buds. Get up close and inspect them! Yes, even in the wintertime, the branches are teeming with these little guys, waiting for the warmer spring air.
- When a tree is dying or dead, the branches tend to lack these leaf buds. Or, the buds appear to be dried up and shriveled. Check multiple branches to make sure its not just the one that needs to be pruned.
Trunk Inspection
- Some trees shed their bark as they grow, so seeing discarded bark doesn’t necessarily mean ringing the warning bells, but there should be fresh new bark underneath, not bare wood.
- Tree trunks that shed layers without replacing them is when you need to start worrying, as it could be a sign the tree’s in decline. Next, look for cracks or splits in the trunk, another indicator a tree is in trouble. If you see these signs, get in touch with an ISA-certified arborist right away to determine your next steps.
Try the Scratch Test!
Use a fingernail or a pocketknife to make a small, light scratch on a twig.
- In healthy trees, the layer immediately under the scratch should be moist and green, ready for growth.
- In dead or dying trees, that layer will likely be browning and brittle. Try this on multiple twigs to make sure. You can also try gently bending the twig, healthy ones will bend like a sapling, while dead ones snap like a cracker.
Get in Touch!
Bradley Tree and Landscaping have been in business for 40 years! We’ve been proudly serving the Buffalo area with expert tree care services. These include wider plant health care, tree planting and tree removal, tree pruning and trimming, seasonal plant care and landscaping, emerald ash borer treatment, and more! Our exemplary work has earned us the honor of working on Olmstead Park’s oldest oak tree with pruning, restoration, and maintenance.
Make sure to check out our blog for more coverage from your favorite Buffalo Arborists! You can also find us on Facebook and YouTube. If you’ve had us by for some work before, make sure to leave us a review on Google, and if you’re unsure, check out those reviews!
If you’re ready to reach out, please give us a call at 716-916-2193 or fill out our convenient online contact form.