7 Signs Your Tree is Dying—and How to Save It

Presence of fungi on an unhealthy tree could indicate that the trunk is rotting, providing a growth medium for the fungi. When a large number of fungi are seen in the ground around the tree, this can signify the roots are rotting away, providing that same growth medium.

How to Tell If a Tree Is Dead: 6 Signs to Look For

Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through the Camden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. He describes himself as a “tree-hugging dirt worshipper” who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations.

There may be a time, whether from a disease, a pesky insect, or old age, that a tree you care for has died. Most trees can and will last a very long time if properly cared for, but they do die, and sometimes you might have difficulty knowing if a tree is dead. There is always the doubt, “Is it dying or maybe just sick and, with help, it can be saved?” Luckily some tell-tale signs are pretty obvious that can tell you whether you can look forward to years of shade or have to start thinking about tree removal. (It’s always a good idea to call a certified arborist for a second opinion — consultations are usually free.)

There is a quick and easy test that you should do yourself before calling an arborist, but first, you will want to give the tree a brief look and see if there are any of the following signs:

Lack of Foliage

If it is spring or summer and all the other trees in the area have leafed out, and your tree does not have leaves, that is a sign of an issue. A lack of leaves may not always mean it is dead, but it is sick, so you must keep inspecting it, as this sign will not tell the full story. If it is winter or autumn and you have a deciduous tree that is not an oak, beech, hornbeam, or ironwood, and it is holding on to some leaves, this can also be a symptom. Again, this will not be conclusive, so you must look for more evidence.

Trunk Damage

Seeing evident trunk damage will tell you a good bit. If the trunk is damaged and the bark is stripped away entirely around the tree, it will not survive. Even bark damage to the main trunk that encompasses half the tree increases the chance of tree death.

Fungus Growth

The first thing to look for is the presence of bracket or shelf fungus on the trunk or a large amount of fungus growth around the tree’s base. Fungi that attack dead tissue on an otherwise healthy tree is not a problem; it’s when fungi attack live tissue that you have a problem.

Presence of fungi on an unhealthy tree could indicate that the trunk is rotting, providing a growth medium for the fungi. When a large number of fungi are seen in the ground around the tree, this can signify the roots are rotting away, providing that same growth medium.

Vertical Cracks

While not always a definite sign, large vertical cracks or splits may be an indicator and, if paired with other signs, will almost certainly point to a tree that is dying or dead. A split on its own, depending on the size of the tree, is not necessarily a death sentence but will almost guarantee a call to an arborist. There are several options for fixing a crack other than removing the tree. Removing the tree is the most expensive solution, but it’s also the safest, since a cracked tree can pose a risk to the surrounding structures, not to mention people.

Peeling Bark

A good amount of tree species have exfoliating bark and many can recover from even extensive bark damage, so this on its own is not a symptom. The most concerning instance of peeling bark is when it encompasses the tree in a 360-degree pattern, called girdling. (A girdled tree can survive, but you should consult an arborist for assistance.)

If the damaged bark looks older and the wood that shows through is not green but is worn smooth without any signs of healing, this is another definitive sign that a tree is dead.

Sudden Leaning

The pesky mushrooms mentioned above, which have started feeding on rotting roots, may foretell a symptom yet to come. When enough of that root structure rots away, the tree will develop a lean, becoming obvious as the ground around the base grows softer. By this time, the other signs should have started to become clear, but if the tree is not in the open or a heavily forested area, the first sign you may see is a leaning tree.

A sign of a lean is not a sure sign of a dying tree, though. Consider the tree’s exposure to wind, the state of its branches, and the slope of the ground it’s growing on, since all of those can cause a lean, too. It’s a lean that develops suddenly that’s cause for concern.

Quick Test to Confirm a Tree Is Dead

• Scratch a limb or a branch with a sharp knife and see if it’s green underneath in several areas.
• Check for shelf or ground fungus.
• Check for physical damage to the tree.

If there is no green on any test areas, evidence of rot or fungus, or any physical damage to the tree, you can be assured that the tree is dead. Always call a certified arborist for a second opinion.

This question is a tough one. If a dead tree poses a hazard, then yes, you need to remove it without a doubt. The issue is what presents a hazard and when. There are clear examples of a hazard, a tree over a house, a sidewalk, a street, and so on. But what if it is in a section of your property that will not present a hazard? If this is the case, there are arguments for letting it fall. The answer is all about a hazard and risk assessment. Of course, local ordinances may sometimes come into play and require their removal, so it is a good idea to check your municipalities resources out.

Dead trees lose structural integrity as they decay, making them a hazard to drop limbs and eventually fall entirely. Other than that, Dead trees also attract wildlife, and while this is usually a good thing, sometimes the guests can be unwanted. Finally, if a pathogen or insect kills the tree, the dead tree can act as a vector and spread the disease or insects.

If I have a dead tree removed should I have the stump removed too?

While it is optional, most people choose stump removal for aesthetic reasons. There is a practical reason, though, that stumps left to rot can leave tree diseases and insects and invite new insects to your property.

7 Signs Your Tree is Dying—and How to Save It

A sick tree may be saved, but a dead tree can pose a safety risk to your home and family. Is your tree healthy, or on the way out? This checklist will help you diagnose it.

By Debbie Wolfe | Published Sep 18, 2023 10:39 AM

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Trees are valuable assets to any landscape, and not just for aesthetic reasons. These towering plants also offer shade and shelter for wildlife and other plants. Sometimes it’s obvious when a tree is dying: Its leaves might be turning brown in the summer, with branches riddled with holes from wood-boring pests. In other instances, it’s not clear when trees are in poor health, but tree health is always worth monitoring. Broken limbs from a dying tree that’s located near a home can cause injuries to people and animals, and can lead to costly repairs if they land on your home or car. Keep an eye out for these seven signs that you may have a dying tree so you can take care of it before it does damage to your property.

1. The tree has brown and brittle bark or cracks.

As the tree is dying, the bark becomes loose and starts to fall off of a dying tree. The tree may also have vertical cracks or missing bark. “Check for deep splits in the bark that extend into the wood of the tree or internal or external cavities,” advises Matt Schaefer, Certified Arborist of The Davey Tree Expert Company, the largest residential tree care company in North America and the first tree care company in the United States. Cracks often create weakness that can cause damage in storms or other weather events.

2. There are few healthy leaves left.

For deciduous trees, look for branches that lack lush green leaves and show only brown and brittle leaves during the growing season. They will also have dead leaves still clinging well into the winter instead of dropping to the ground. Coniferous evergreens will start to show red, brown or yellow needles or leaves when it’s stressed or dying.

3. The tree has an abundance of dead wood.

A couple of dead branches or dead wood doesn’t necessarily mean you have a dying tree. (Keeping a regular pruning schedule during the dormant season will keep your trees healthy and strong.) However, an increased prevalence of dead wood can indicate that it is a sick or dying tree. “Dead trees and branches can fall at any time,” Schaefer warns. They are potential hazards to you and your home.

4. It’s a host to critters and fungus.

Pests such as bark beetles and carpenter ants live in trees that are under stress or are dying. These pests prefer to live in dead, weakened, or dying hosts. As for fungal or bacterial infections, look for cankers (discolored areas or depressed places on the bark) or mushrooms growing on the ground at the base of a tree or on the tree itself. These are indications of rot in the roots or trunk. “In time, decay will extend further within the tree leading to structural problems,” Schaefer says.

5. The tree shows signs of root damage.

Since roots run deep underground, determining damage isn’t always easy to do. If you’ve had recent excavation or construction projects near the tree, look out for any changes in the tree’s health since that time that might suggest the roots were damaged in the process. Likewise, if your tree has a shallow and/or partially exposed root system, pay attention to subtle changes that might suggest exposure to extreme elements and poor soil compaction have affected the vitality of the roots. Some signs of root damage include thinning foliage, poor yearly growth, yellow undersized leaves, dead branches, and wilted brown leaves during the growing season.

6. It develops a sudden (or gradual) lean.

“Odd growth patterns may indicate general weakness or structural imbalance,” Schaefer explains. In general, trees that lean at more than 15 degrees from vertical are an indication of wind or root damage. Large trees that have tipped in intense winds seldom recover and will eventually die.

7. The tree fails the scratch test.

Right beneath the dry, outer layer of bark is the cambium layer. If the tree still has life, it will be green; in a dead or dying tree, it is brown and dry. You can use a fingernail or a pocket knife to remove a small strip of exterior bark to check the cambium layer. You may need to repeat the test over several areas of the tree to determine if the whole tree is dead, or it’s just a few branches.

Can you save a dying tree?

If your tree is sick or only part of it is dying, you may still be able to save it with the help of an arborist.

A sick tree will display symptoms that are similar to those of a dying or dead tree, but they will not be as widespread. “Although defective trees are dangerous, not all of them need to be removed immediately, and some defects can be treated to prolong the life of the tree,” Schaefer says. Contacting an arborist as soon as you notice any signs of a dying tree will give you a better chance of saving it. An arborist has the training and knowledge required to diagnose and successfully treat tree problems.

Conducting regular tree care and maintenance such as proper pruning, treating for disease and pests, and fixing structural damage will also help improve your tree’s health.

What if it’s too late to save a dying tree?

Even strong, healthy trees can fall victim to severe weather, disease, or infestation. If the tree is beyond saving, it’s best to remove it if it poses a danger of falling onto people or structures. “Tree risks aren’t always visible or obvious,” Schaefer explains, adding, “advanced analysis, sometimes through the use of specialized arborist tools or techniques, may be necessary.” Consult a certified arborist to determine if your dead tree poses a dangerous situation on your property.