How to Tell if a Tree Is Dead, Dying, or Dangerous

How to Tell if a Tree Is Dead, Dying, or Dangerous

Dormant or dead? Check in the right season

In late fall and winter most Triad hardwoods are bare, so a leafless tree is not proof it is dead. Look closely at the twigs instead: a live twig bends and has green, moist tissue just under the bark when you scratch it with a fingernail, while a dead twig snaps and is brown and dry inside. Buds on live branches stay plump through winter. If a tree did not leaf out last spring, or only leafed out on part of the crown, that is a stronger clue than its winter look.

Bark, cracks, and splits

Bark that falls off in sheets, bare wood showing on the trunk, deep vertical cracks, and splits where two large trunks meet are all warning signs. A narrow V-shaped fork with bark pinched between the stems is a common weak point that can split under ice or wind. Cracks that go deep into the wood or keep growing need a closer look from a tree professional.

Decay at the base and in the trunk

Mushrooms or shelf-like conks on the trunk or roots, soft or crumbly wood, hollow sounds, sawdust, and cavities usually mean decay inside. A tree can look full and green on top while its base or main roots are rotting, which is why trees sometimes fall on calm days. Decay low on the trunk or in the root area is more serious than a small cavity high in a limb.

Leaning and root problems

Many trees grow with a gentle lean and stay stable for decades. A new lean, or soil that is cracked, heaved, or mounded on the side away from the lean, can mean the roots are failing. Roots cut by trenching, driveway work, or grading within a few years can also weaken a tree. In wet Triad clay, shallow-rooted trees such as pines can tip over after long rainy spells.

Dead limbs and hanging branches

Dead branches, often called deadwood, are brittle and can drop without warning, especially in wind and ice. Broken limbs caught in the canopy, sometimes called hangers, are a real danger to anyone walking or working below. Do not climb up or pull on them yourself. A crew with the right gear can bring them down safely.

Pests and diseases to watch for

Pine bark beetles can kill stressed pines quickly, and a pine whose needles turn yellow, then reddish brown, often has small pitch tubes or tiny holes in the bark. Emerald ash borer has spread through much of North Carolina and kills ash trees, which then become brittle and hazardous to remove. Older oaks under stress from drought, root damage, or construction can decline over several years. If you are not sure what is wrong, an arborist can identify it.

What is a target?

A dead tree in the back of a wooded lot may be safe to leave as wildlife habitat. The same tree over your house, driveway, play area, fence, or a neighbor's yard is a different story. When you decide what to do, think about what the tree or its limbs would hit if they fell, not just how the tree looks.

What to do next

Keep people and cars out from under a tree you are worried about. Stay well away from any tree or limb near a power line and call the power company. Then get an in-person assessment and a quote. A dead tree gets more brittle over time, which can make removal harder and riskier later, so it usually pays not to wait. Prices vary by tree size, access, and risk, and the provider sets the final price.

More tree service guides

• Winter Tree Removal and Ice Storm Prep in the NC Triad
• Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal: Which One Do You Need?

Related help in the Triad

• Triad Land Clearing Pros for clearing whole lots, brush, and undergrowth.
• Triad Septic Pros if roots or storm damage are affecting your septic tank or drain field.