How to tell if a tree is dying or dead?

Check the bark first

Peel back a small section of bark on a suspect branch. Green, moist tissue underneath means the branch is alive. Brown, dry, and brittle tissue means that section is dead, and it's worth checking a few more spots to see how far the damage extends.

Look at the canopy as a whole

Thinning leaves, branches with no leaves at all while the rest of the tree looks fine, and leaves that are smaller or more sparse than in previous years are all signs of a tree under serious stress.

Fungus at the base is a red flag

Mushrooms or fungal growth at the base of the trunk or on major roots usually means internal decay, which weakens the structure long before it becomes visible from the outside.

A tree can look fine from the street and still be structurally compromised underneath

Cracks, splits, and leaning are urgent

A new lean, a vertical crack in the trunk, or bark that's splitting away from the wood are all signs the tree's structural integrity is failing, not just its health.

When in doubt, get it assessed

Not every stressed tree is dying, and not every dying tree needs to come down immediately. A professional assessment is the fastest way to know whether a tree needs monitoring, treatment, or removal.

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If you're not sure whether a tree on your property is dying or just stressed, Out On A Limb can take a look and tell you exactly where it stands.

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