Although it isn’t always immediately obvious that a tree has died, this is important to determine early on. If you don’t address the issue of a dead tree soon enough, your property could be put at risk. Dead trees are far more likely to topple over, even if due to shifting soil or strong winds. If you can get rid of the tree before it falls down on its own, you could avoid serious, expensive damage to your home or property.
Determining if a Tree Is Alive or Dead
There are a couple of steps you can take if you want to quickly determine whether a tree is alive. If you believe that a tree on your property is dead or dying, make sure to contact experienced tree service professionals, as soon as possible.
Perform an Investigation
Start the process by examining and investigating the tree — just make sure you’re taking a very close look. Try to spot any evidence of fresh leaves or buds, since if you notice anything like this, there’s a good chance that the tree is still alive. As long as you can spot evidence that the tree is growing new life, then it’s probably not dying.
If you fail to find buds or leaves, try bending some of the tree’s smaller branches. If they snap easily and don’t arch or bend, then the branch in question is dead. If you find numerous dead branches, this could indicate a dead or dying tree.
Perform a Scratch Test
If the tree has many dead branches, then you can move onto a scratch test. Simply take a pocketknife or your fingernails, and scratch away a small portion of the tree’s exterior bark. If you find green tissue beneath this layer of bark, then the tree is likely alive.
Do you have a dead tree on your property in Medford? Then it’s time to get in touch with the tree service experts at Quality Tree Service. To learn more or to get started, simply contact us through our site.