It can be difficult to tell if a tree is dead or alive. Here are six signs to help you figure out how to tell if a tree is dead, fine, or sick.

When you’re checking if a tree is dead, the canopy’s leaf patterns and density can tell you a lot about its health. You’ll want to look for changes in seasonal leaf growth, as healthy trees show full, consistent leaf coverage during growing seasons, while dead or dying trees display patchy, irregular patterns.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the telltale signs of a dying or dead tree, discuss the potential causes, and provide you with expert advice on how to save a struggling tree. We’ll also touch on the importance of tree care and when it’s time to call in professional arborists like Caldwell Tree Care for assistance.

Here are the signs to look for. When an arborist consults about your tree, they do a top-to-bottom assessment, so you might as well, too. Start with the top of the tree, known as the crown. Are leafless branches sticking out of the leaf canopy? That’s called dieback, says Lou Meyer, arborist with The Davey Tree Expert Company.

How to tell if a tree is dead or dormant with our guide; learn key methods like the scratch test, bud inspection, and flexibility test to ease your concerns.