Trees give off a number of different signs that they might be experiencing issues, and trees that are dying or already dead are no exception. You may be able to spot a few telltale signs that one or more trees on your property are declining or have already died, depending on the kinds of trees you have and a few other factors.

At Green Pointe Tree Care, we’re happy to offer a number of services to help prevent these issues, from tree spraying and injections through several other forms of care to prevent disease, pests and other risks from impacting your Cottonwood Heights trees. What are some of the basic signs that your tree might be in the process of dying or already dead, allowing you to consider treatments or removal methods? Here’s a primer.

Signs a Tree is Dying

If you’re concerned about the health of a tree on your property, there’s a simple test that requires only your finger or a pocketknife to learn more. Using this item, scratch one of the tree’s twigs — if you see a moist green color underneath, the tree is living and likely thriving.

If, however, the inside of the twig is brown and brittle, move into these further inspection steps:

Scratch some other twigs to confirm that all of them are brown inside.
Look at the base of the tree, where it meets the soil. If you see dark brown patches below ground level, this is an indicator that your tree is either experiencing root rot or has already died.
Check for any split or unusual-looking growth on the bark of the tree — if you see these irregularities, such as mushrooms or other fungi, it might be an indication that the tree is rotting from the inside out.
Check the trunk for peeling bark, cracks or splits.
Also check higher up for hanging branches, missing leaves or an unusual number of dead leaves still clinging to the rest of the plant. All of these signs indicate that something is wrong with your tree — if you spot any or all, consider contacting Green Pointe Tree Care for an inspection to see whether treatment or removal are necessary.

Signs a Tree is Dead

In many cases, identifying just one or two of the issues above may indicate a tree that’s declining, but is still alive — any often can be saved using injection or other forms of disease control. There are also signs, however, that the tree may have already died:

Major cracks in the trunk of the tree
Peeling bark in several areas at once
Significant mushroom or other fungal growth near tree roots
Multiple branches with no living buds or leaves

Especially if multiple of these signs are present at once, your tree may already have died. Our arborists can help you tell for sure.

For more on how to spot the signs of a dying or dead tree, or to learn about any of our Cottonwood Heights tree spraying or related services, speak to the pros at Green Pointe Tree Care today.