August 6, 2020
While many of them can live for what seems like forever, oftentimes trees die and need to be removed. In some cases, a diseased or dying tree can be saved and will eventually restore itself back to normal with a bit of care and disease control (if this is the issue) but there are also times when a tree completely dies and there is zero chance of saving it.
A dead tree, especially a rather large species, can potentially be dangerous if not removed. They become weak and are at great risk of falling and causing damage or injury.
But how do you know if a tree is completely dead? How do you decide if it’s time for it to be removed?
It’s best not to judge a tree’s health during the fall or winter, as many trees will look completely dead during these months, but really they are perfectly healthy. If spring rolls around however, and that tree doesn’t “spring to life” then it might be time to take a closer look and look for these typical signs of a dead tree.
Look For Damaged Roots
But the roots are in the ground, how can I see if they are damaged?
Many species of tree will have some of their roots lying just beneath the surface of the ground and there may be spots that are totally visible.
Was there recent construction work done lately that could have led to damaged roots? It’s possible they were damaged by equipment during some city work.
Does the tree appear to be leaning to one side more than it used too? If the roots are damaged or dying, they aren’t strong enough to hold the tree upright, so be sure to look for a lean.
Look For Trunk Damage & Bark Loss
Just like many other living things, trees will shed their outer layer and grow back a healthy new one. Their outer layer being their bark.
Bark will fall off the trunk of a tree, but if the tree is still in good health, new bark will grow back and replace what fell off. A tree that is dead will not grow back new healthy bark, it will remain bare once the old stuff sheds.
Take a close look at the trunk, do you notice any significant damage? Large vertical cracks in the trunk could be a sign that you don’t have a healthy tree.
Look For Bare Branches During The Spring/Summer
One tell-tale sign of a dead tree is one that isn’t producing luscious greenery in a season when it should be.
During the spring, watch for proper budding and leaf growth. If you notice you’ve got a tree that just isn’t blooming the way it should then there is a solid chance that tree is dead.
If the tree is growing some leaves but still not the amount it should be or it begins losing its leaves way earlier in the season than it should, these are also signs that a tree is dying.
Look For Signs Of Tree Disease
Leaf rust, powder-like mildew, fungus growth, cankers, leaf spots or noticeable pest infestation, are all signs that your tree might be diseased.
Just like people, trees will try their best to fight off diseases and restore themselves back to good health, but it doesn’t always work. Sometimes they need a little human intervention and sometimes that’s not enough either.
There are times when a tree contracts a disease and it just completely takes over to the point of killing the tree. Most tree diseases will leave noticeable marks or damage and is a good sign of a dead tree.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Tree Is Dead Or Dying?
If you have checked for the above signs and symptoms of a dead tree but you still feel unsure of its health, you can perform a small “test” to help dig a little deeper into the tree’s symptoms.
Take a small knife and scratch through a branch. If the inside of that branch is bright green and wet, that tree is still healthy and might be in the beginning stages of decline and possibly saveable. Check a few more branches and make sure none of them are brown and dried inside.
If you are still not 100% confident, then it’s important to call someone who knows trees!
Bringing out a professional who knows the signs of a dead tree is important because if that tree is in fact dead, it needs to be quickly removed and on the flip-side, if your tree is still healthy, you don’t want to accidentally have it cut down for no reason.
Calling in a pro like the team at Pevach Corp can help you determine the best course of action and if the tree is in fact dead and needs to be removed they can give you a quote for the removal cost.
Using the best in the industry equipment, they can safely take down the tree, remove the stump and leave nothing but an empty space.
If you notice any changes in a tree on your property, it’s important that you don’t ignore those changes and you look into it right away. A dead tree can fall on your home, office and vehicles causing a great amount of damage.
Have it checked out before it becomes a bigger problem.
Contact Pevach Corp today for a quote.
