Beautiful, healthy trees are an asset to your property, however if a tree is dead, dying or diseased it can become a major safety risk and an expensive problem if left unchecked. Knowing how to identify if a tree is dead or in decline and taking the appropriate measures can potentially save you thousands of dollars and avoid serious risk and damage.

What Are The Signs Of A Dead Tree?

If your tree is dead, it will usually show consistent signs of a complete lack of life such as:

• Lack of leaves
• No new growth over the course of several months (not just dormancy)
• Brittle, dry branches that snap easily with no bend
• Peeling bark and decay
• Hollow trunk
• Deep cracks in the trunk
• Fungal growth at the base of the tree
• No green under the bark at all – you can do a ‘scratch test’ by gently scratching the outer bark with a knife. If it is brown and dry with no green or moisture at all, that section is most likely dead

If you suspect your tree is dead it is vital to have it inspected by a qualified Arborist immediately, especially if it is a large tree or located within close proximity of your house, electrical lines or other structures. If your tree is dead, it will most likely need to be removed as it can pose a significant safety risk if it was to fall over.

What Are The Signs Of A Dying Tree?

If your tree is dying or in a serious stage of decline there will normally be tell-tale signs. However, it will usually show some signs of life and may be able to be saved. Here are the things to look for:

• Thinning canopy – sparse leaves, dropping leaves, less leaves than normal
• Dead branches in the upper canopy 
• Increase in deadwood
• Damage to roots
• Cracks in the trunk or major limbs – can indicate internal decay
• Leaning suddenly – can be a sign of root damage or failure
• Presence of pests

If you notice any of these signs, it’s prudent to have the tree inspected by a qualified Arborist. Early intervention such as pruning, pest treatment and soil quality improvement can sometimes restore health.

What Are The Signs Of A Diseased Tree?

A diseased tree will usually show symptoms related specifically to pest, bacterial or fungal infections. Some of the signs to look for:

• Changes to leaves such as spotting or discolouration, wilting or curling
• Fungal growth around the base of the trunk or on the trunk itself
• Sap oozing or leaking from the trunk
• Swollen areas of the trunk
• Unusual growth such as cankers
• Visible signs of pest infestation

Again, if you have discovered any of these signs – it’s best to call a qualified Arborist to do a full inspection and advise the best treatment plan to try and save your tree.

Call An Arborist

If you think your tree is dead or unwell, it’s best to call a qualified Arborist for their professional opinion and advice on next steps. Dead, dying or diseased trees can pose major safety risks and can infect other trees in your yard, so acting without delay could mean the difference between your tree falling over in the next big storm or not.

Trees can appear healthy on the outside whilst harbouring disease on the inside so having an Arborist assess your trees is really the only way to know for sure if you have an at-risk tree. Acting early not only protects your home and family, it can also save a tree that could still have years of life left in it.

For all your professional tree care and maintenance needs, speak to the team at Aussie Tree Solutions today. We have been a trusted name in the industry for over forty years and  provide a full range of services. From tree pruning and tree removals to stump grinding, mulch and consulting Arborist services. Whatever your tree issue – we’ll get to the root of it!