Is My Tree Dormant or Dead in Omaha?

When the temperature drops in the fall, it’s not only us who begin to feel the coming cold. It affects the garden and your trees. While we might mistake trees for being inanimate objects, we all know they’re living beings, and like us, they turn things down a notch during the winter. Trees in the colder climates of the United States experience a “dormancy” period during the winter, where they slow growth, drop leaves to conserve energy and wait for the cold weather until spring comes around. But is my tree dormant or dead in Omaha? Both states have similar looks. Here are a few methods gardeners can use to assess the status of their trees.

Look for New Buds

Trees produce buds even during dormancy. Look at the crown; small leaf buds popping up are a clear sign of life for your tree. Buds can vary in color, from green to red or brown. If the tree is dead, there will be no new buds.

The Cambium (Snap-Snatch) Test

This test locates the greenish “cambium” on the tree. Scratch away a bit of bark using a knife, and you should notice a green layer underneath. It’s a sign that the tree is in dormancy.

That’s a clear indicator signaling the tree is still alive. If the cambium is brown, you know the tree is dead.

Root Health Inspection

Roots are the trees’ lifeline to health. If the roots experience rot or disease infestation, it will affect the tree’s growth. The rot steadily spreads through the root system, causing it to die. This infestation also means the tree loses its grip on the soil, resulting in a fall risk on the property. These trees are hazardous.

Uncover some soil around the base of the tree and assess the roots. If there are fungi on the roots, it’s a sign of disease and rot and an indicator that the tree may perish soon. Fungi near the tree base means it may not be in good health. It may be a dead or dying tree.

Bark Inspection

The health of the bark also presents another indicator when assessing the tree for dormancy or death. Healthy trees shed and replace bark while dying trees struggle to replace it.

Trunk Inspection

The trunk is the tree’s nutrient superhighway, shuttling nutrients from the roots to the leaves and vice versa. Look for the following issues to determine if the tree is dormant or dead.

- Cavities appear at the base or along the main trunk
- Splits and cracks
- Missing bark
- Signs of lightning strikes
- Green leaves are turning brown and dropping
- Dead branches are dropping
- Sawdust is around the base of the trunk or near the tree

Why Remove Dead Trees from the Yard?

A dead tree presents a risk for property damage and requires removal for the following reasons:

Prevent it from falling onto structures or people in the yard
Branches may drop on people sitting or walking under the tree, leading to severe injuries
Dead branches are unpredictable and could drop at any time.
Dead trees leaning on walls or near homes may fall under strong winds and damage the roofs and structures.

Pests and Disease

Pests love nesting in dead trees. They will bore out the tree to create their residence and sometimes as a food source, weakening the tree and causing it to die. Pests and diseases can spread from trees to other trees and plants in the yard, ruining your landscape. Dead trees also create an eyesore on your property, reducing its appeal to buyers.

Pests love nesting in dead trees. They will bore out the tree to create their residence and sometimes as a food source, weakening the tree and causing it to die.

Diseases can spread from trees to other trees and plants in the yard, ruining your landscape. Dead trees also create an eyesore on your property, reducing its appeal to buyers.

Call an Omaha Professional If You’re Uncertain If Your Tree Is Dormant Or Dead

If you have trouble identifying if the tree is dead or dormant in Omaha, call the professionals for assistance. A trained and experienced arborist has an eye for the task and will judge the tree’s health in minutes.

Dormancy is a natural part of the tree’s life cycle. It’s a great time of the year to prune the branches to encourage new growth in your deciduous tree in the spring and summer.

An arborist has the equipment and knowledge for successful pruning, and they also have the skills and resources to remove a dead tree from your property. Do this to prevent the spread of disease through the garden and eliminate fall risks that might lead to property damage.

Tree Services of Omaha

Tree Services of Omaha, Nebraska is a full-service tree care provider that offers a wide range of arborist services including but not limited to: Tree Removal Services, Tree Trimming, Tree Pruning, Tree and Shrub Shaping, Stump Removal, Stump Grinding, Arborist Consultations, Systemic Tree Injections.