How to Tell If a Tree Is Dead or Dying

The 7 signs a tree is dead or dying

Trees don’t announce their decline with a neon sign. A tree can look healthy from 50 feet away and be significantly compromised at the root zone or in the core of the trunk. Here are seven signs that should prompt a closer look or a call for a professional assessment.

1. Bare branches during the growing season. If it’s June in Knoxville and a significant portion of the canopy has no leaves, that section is dead. Normal dormancy ends by late March to early April for most deciduous species – bare branches in June are never normal.
2. Bark falling off in sheets. When the cambium beneath the bark dies, the outer bark loses adhesion and sloughs off. Smooth, gray, featureless wood where bark has dropped is a reliable indicator the tree is dying in that area.
3. Mushrooms or fungal conks at the base. Fruiting bodies at the base indicate internal wood decay that is typically far more extensive than what’s visible outside. This is a structural warning that requires professional assessment.
4. Trunk cavities and visible cracks. A cavity combined with other signs, or one larger than roughly a third of the trunk circumference, warrants a structural assessment. Vertical cracks and shakes indicate active structural failure.
5. A lean that has gotten worse. A new or worsening lean – especially after wind or a wet spring – indicates root failure or soil movement and is a meaningful risk.
6. Soil heaving at the base. If the ground around the base is visibly lifted or cracked in a circular pattern, the root plate is rotating. This is a precursor to windthrow and should be treated as an emergency.
7. The scratch test. Scrape a small section of bark on a twig. A living branch is green and slightly moist beneath; a dead branch is brown, tan, or gray and dry. Work from the tips inward.

Common East Tennessee tree killers

Hemlock woolly adelgid has devastated eastern hemlock populations. Emerald ash borer is killing the majority of ash trees in the region. Oak wilt causes rapid flagging and death, particularly in red oaks. Southern pine beetle attacks stressed pines. And storm damage creates compromised trees that fail in later weather events.

When a dying tree becomes urgent

The urgency escalates when the tree is within falling distance of a structure, vehicle, or gathering area; when it has a pronounced lean toward a target; when the species is known for brittle wood; or when storm season is approaching. Call (865) 500-6459 to schedule a free on-site assessment.