Understanding Dormant Trees: Identifying Signs of Life in Spring

With the arrival of spring, distinguishing between a tree that is dead and one that is merely dormant can be challenging. While it is expected for trees to produce leaves during this season, there may be instances where this does not occur.

If you observe that neighboring trees are budding while yours remain bare, there is no need for immediate concern. The onset of spring does not uniformly dictate when each tree will bloom or produce foliage.

It is important to recognize the distinction between a deceased tree and one that is simply delayed in emerging from dormancy. Various factors can contribute to a tree leafing out later than others, including species differences, microclimate conditions, location, sunlight exposure, and canopy coverage.

Inspection of the Tree Trunk and Bark

Assess the color and texture of the bark. Any deviation from the appearance of nearby trees of the same species, or any branch that appears different from the rest of the tree, could indicate a dead branch or tree.

Indicators of significant decay, such as peeling bark, open wounds, or fungal growths, may suggest that the tree is deteriorating or potentially dead.

Try Bending the Twigs

For smaller trees, examining the branches can provide valuable insights into the tree’s health.

Gently bend a small branch or twig. If it breaks easily and appears dry and brittle inside, this is a negative sign. In a healthy tree, the wood should bend rather than snap (though excessive bending will eventually break any branch). It is important to note that this does not apply to every branch on every tree.

A single broken twig or small branch may indicate one or more dead branches, but the rest of the tree could still be healthy. Test multiple branches to ascertain if the issue affects more than one area of the tree before concluding the overall health status of the tree.

Check for New Buds

Even during winter, dormant trees possess buds at the tips of branches. As spring approaches, these buds begin to swell, although they may be small and hard to detect early in the season. Carefully inspect for new buds forming on your tree’s branches.

Swelling buds, particularly those beginning to turn green, are a positive indication. However, not all branches may exhibit new buds. It is common to find some branches with new buds while others show none. Be patient; if the branches are flexible, the bark appears normal, and they pass the “scratch test,” they may simply be delayed in ending dormancy.

Finding one or more dead branches does not necessarily doom your tree—simply prune the deadwood once confirmed dead.

Conduct a Scratch Test with Confidence

The cambium is the green, growing layer within a tree’s trunk and branches, responsible for producing new bark and wood.

Peel back a small portion of bark on one or more stems or twigs. For trees and shrubs with thinner bark, use a fingernail to gently remove the surface layer. For thicker bark, utilize pruning shears or a knife to scrape the surface. Aim to reach the cambium layer beneath the outer bark without cutting into the branch; simply scrape away the surface.

Uncovering a moist, green layer beneath the bark confirms the presence of cambium and indicates that the tree is healthy.

Even dormant trees retain live cambium, so if you find only grey, extremely dry wood beneath the outer bark, it likely indicates the branch is dead and may need removal.