How to Spot the Warning Signs: Dead, Dying or Hazardous Trees

While it might seem obvious, it is actually difficult for the untrained eye to spot a dead or dying tree. At Leaf & Limb, removal is always a last resort, so we want to be completely sure that there is no other way to save the tree before we make the first cut. In this video we describe a few ways to check and see if your tree is dead or dying.
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Visit our website to read:
Think Your Tree is Dead? Look a Little Closer: www.leaflimb.c...
How to Spot a Dead or Dying Tree: www.leaflimb.c...
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We care for trees because we love our planet. If you need tree care services, advice from our Treecologists, new trees, or want to learn how to heal our planet, let’s chat! We serve Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Carrboro, Apex, Holly Springs, Clayton, Garner, Knightdale, Mebane, Morrisville, Pittsboro, and Wake Forest in North Carolina. If you need tree care or arborist consulting from an expert tree service, let’s chat!

[@maisetas]

i have many trees that some years they dont produce any leaves, like apple tree that deer eats or a peach, but next year it flurishes and some old cherry tree that has no bark on it and it havent when i bought the property but still produces cherries for many years. so just too check signs you really dont need to cut down a tree. observe it for 1 or 2 years

[@haziln6753]

We recently purchased a property here in Canada during winter we were really happy as there were many matured trees on the property, we know the value of trees because we previously lived on a property with none. Unfortunately once we moved during spring we started noticing many trees are half dead. Some trees are growing really odd directions from the ground almost 30 degree angle which we did not notice with the heavy snow but they look like a heavy wind will make them fall maybe I’m assuming one tree did just on the move in day. We had to prune some trees remove dead branches. Some trees have very little leaves almost like they are dying it’s very heartbreaking, trees were one of the main reason we purchased the property having someone come and check out the trees or cut them cost thousands of dollars. They are very close to the house too It’s kind of worrying we are in a confusion of what to do with half dead trees cut them or keep them

[@gunthergordon2585]

I wish I had sought your knowledge before I had some limbs cut down from a tree in the backyard.

[@janiceboyd7053]

A family member y showed me his tree after a large limb fell onto a car. The area under the break was a all dark area looked wet! There are dark rings around the base of tree does look like it is dying

[@yansfor5306]

It has been years, but i have 2 pine trees and another tree. Dont know what kind of tree it is yet. When the day comes that one of them need to be removed I will replace it with another tree. Love them too much just to have a barr property with heat beaming down so much.

[@brian19711]

I spotted the warning signs thanks to your incredibly detailed video... I was able to find my nephew a treatment center

[@CurtisEFlush5962]

I took a shower today and realized that soap in the eye hurts

[@KushKussh]

@@CurtisEFlush5962 no kidding? Yourr so funny

[@uncletacosupreme7023]

Its spring time. Every tree on the property is a lush green. I walked out to one of our biggest and most beautiful trees brown with shriveled up leaves. 😭😭

[@Paige-Turnner]

I'm heartbroken that the city is coming to cut down my beautiful quaking Aspen. I feel like I've actually losing a loved one. It has been such a beautiful thing to have as my view from my prison of an apartment during Covid lockdowns. It's fine. I'm not sure why they are cutting it down, but they say it's dying. It's so sturdy and just survive a great storm earlier this month. It has a hummingbird nest in it and I think this may send me into a tailspin of depression. 😔

[@KushKussh]

Im so sad about my plum tree right here too

[@athensboy123]

It seems like humans really hate trees.. here in Georgia the construction booming here they can't stand to leave a tree standing when putting in big warehouses or dam subdivisions inn. They always bull doze them down very sad

[@stormchild831]

Probably,too late now.. However, thought I'd respond ..I live in Rural Wales,in the UK... Here it is,illegal, to destroy , remove or otherwise interfere with the nest of a nesting bird.... Also, certain trees here, are protected by law.... Additionally, it is historical fact, that people have been known to,literally, chain themselves to certain trees, in order to protect them being chopped down... In which case, might be a good idea ( for any future tree protection problems ) to tip off your local newspaper..so, the issue can be documented ..

[@philipmeher7801]

Hi, would it be possible to ask you a question about an oak tree that’s dying I have lots of tiny holes in the bark and there is a little bit of a red substance almost like red mold on the bark as well but it’s a huge oak tree one limbs died completely and another whole tree is dying. It’s back in my field, but it’s a prominent area and I don’t know if it’s possible to save it or cut it down I could send a picture. Is it possible to chat with you?

[@theRichestRice7]

I gained some knowledge from this video thanks!

[@barnesbarnes3145]

Thank you!☺

[@mafermaciasto3921]

hi i live by a really long road where millions of cars pass by daily and it has always been surrounded by trees but recently i have noticed that in some parts of this road where cars spend the most time at the trees there are dying, some trees have big chunks where there are no leaves and some don't have any leaves at all. it makes me worried and sad because everything was surrounded by green leaves and big branches and now people are scared to walk beside them because a dead branch could fall over them. i really want to revive those trees but i dont have the money to hire someone professional and i dont know how to do it :(

[@Leaflimb]

That's definitely a tough situation. One thing to make sure of is that the trees have plenty of organic matter for their roots. You could leave the leaves and maybe add a bed of arborist wood chips around the trees to help improve the soil.

[@denacarroll4093]

I live in Charlotte NC. the tree we have in our front yard has sap oozing from it in one spot. please advise on treating it. unfortunately I'm not sure what type of tree it is.

[@Leaflimb]

It's hard to say for sure, but that sounds like slime flux, which is not treatable. But, it is a sign that your tree is stressed. The issue is probably to do with poor soil conditions. Check out our video "Soil is Alive" for guidance on how to fix this. I hope this helps your tree! Let us know how it turns out.

[@kel3wild]

I have a very old pecan tree in my front yard. It survived hurricanes Laura (cat 4) and Delta (cat 2) in 2020, but has since been struck by lightning on two separate occasions. The last lightning strike was about a month ago. It blew bark off the tree and left a scar all the way down the trunk. I have tried to get an arborist to come out and look at it, but they seem to be too busy to bother with an estimate. I have been monitoring the tree carefully. I don't appear to have any dead branches and see no dying leaves. However, today I noticed that the tree has an infestation of wood roaches. Is this an indicator that the tree is dying, or are the roaches feeding on the dead bark from the lightning strike?

[@Leaflimb]

The wood roaches are nesting/feeding in the dead bark, they will not harm the tree. The only and best thing he can do to help the tree is ensure it has amazing soil - lots of rotting leaves, wood chips, and compost.

[@marygrace1240]

I have a tree that appears to be dead, it has been cut half way and almost looks like a big stump but I saw small green leaves growing at the top , does that mean it isnt really dead? I also see holes like something a woodpecker would make.

[@Paige-Turnner]

Dead trees make great habitats for woodpeckers. Don't cut it down unless you absolutely have to. (I'm not an expert, just hate to see any tree be cut down)

[@athensboy123]

@@Paige-Turnner me too u should see what they do with trees here in my state on Georgia they apparently hate trees here

[@mbutterfly4180]

This was great. I have loved trees my whole life but in front of my house are 2 trees that really don't look healthy. After this video, I feel much better, I dont think they are dead :). But I still think they need some help. One of the trees has black bark, and while it does get leaves every spring, it has very few branches and some bark is coming off. Any advice?

[@Leaflimb]

It sounds like it might just be sapsucker damage. When sapsuckers peck the bark looking for food, the sap leaks down, attracts sooty mold, and turns black. It's not a big deal. But it could also be a scale insect (eg, gloomy scale), which is a bit more concerning (but definitely an issue that can be solved). And then of course there are many other possibilities, some more severe. To say for sure, we would need to see the tree. My best advice is to find an ISA Certified Arborist who very clearly cares about caring for trees vs removing them in your area and schedule a consultation with that company or individual

[@Tinadixoononair]

I don’t know what kind of oak I have but I noticed the leaves are gone on one side and slowly going on the other. I don’t wanna loose it can you tell me what it is so I can try to save it. I can send you pics please help!

[@Leaflimb]

It's hard to say what is wrong with the tree without seeing the tree in person. We would recommend contacting a local ISA certified arborist who could come and give your oak a thorough inspection. What we can say is the tree is definitely stressed. So making sure its root flare is exposed, the soil is healthy, and the area around the tree is covered in woodchips would be a good way to help the tree.

[@KushKussh]

My plum tree just about died all the way but it has one branch it is still trying and producing from on its lower trunk. Its so 😢 what do i do! Keep watering it?! Trim it?

[@duckco1]

After a recent hurricane our beautiful big 30 yr old oak tree had lots of damage. No up rooting just quit a bit of big to small limb lose or damage so I cut the damaged limbs before they fell on someone, a total of 13 all together. It's always been a beautiful tree even after the damage from the hurricane so after cutting the limbs the tree lost all of it's leaves in a weeks time and once was healthy limbs are snapping off in a decent wind. Did I kill our tree or will it come back?

[@Leaflimb]

Good question! We recommend waiting until spring to see if leaves sprout. If the don't, the tree is likely to be dead.

[@duckco1]

@@Leaflimb not the answer I was hoping to see but it is what it is thank you for your honesty.

[@Richard01234]

I wish there was a service where you could send videos and get some diagnosis. I have 3/4 of an acre with trees scattered about near property lines and I feel like I have been paying $2,000 a year to remove the bad trees, I think this year I am just removing most of them unless they are in excellent health. House was built in the 50's so I assume most trees were planted then and are near 80 - 90 years old and dont have much time left. Shame because I like trees and don't like the look of open fields as a yard. (Also want to put a zip line up but I dont trust the health of most of these trees.)

[@JesusMusic1988]

I have a big tree in my yard. I don't know if it's dying, per se. It has a spot that seems to be dying, but the rest of the tree is green and vibrant. My neighbor suspects that it could be a bacteria ir virus. If that's the case, do you have any recommendations for that?

[@Leaflimb]

I would recommend consulting with an ISA Certified Arborist in your area

[@waqasahmed939]

Thanks, though it still plays in the back of my head, a "what if" about the tree that's dead in my garden Ideally, I'd like it to be completely felled with the roots ripped out, so I could plant something else there instead

[@Leaflimb]

Dead trees are an important part of the ecosystem, but they can be dangerous. It might be helpful to contact a local arborist who can do a tree risk assessment to get an idea of how dangerous this tree might be. And we are always big fans of planting more native trees.

[@justanotherperson584]

Hello tree man, I live in New England and have tall pine trees. I want to build a off them, but I don’t know if they could be hollow in the middle. I have removed many but kept a set of twins and the granddaddy. Is it as simple as knocking on them or something?

[@Leaflimb]

A tool like a sounding hammer can give you a better idea of whats going on inside the tree based on the sound it makes. But this can be tricky and you might want to get a ISA certified arborist to come out and give you a tree risk assessment before you build anything off of them just to be safe.

[@justanotherperson584]

@@Leaflimb thank you so very much for responding ….alright I will get a arborist tree person. I do love my trees, they don’t judge me. And if they are not good I won’t touch them unless one fell.

[@athensboy123]

Now how can I explain this to my old very hard headed landlord? I have 3 big trees about 40'or 50' tall one is a twin 2 trunk sweet gum and the others is a red oak going not but 8 feet from my porch towering over the house here.! Scares the hell outta me every time a hurricane or severe Strom like the tornado that came threw not too long ago? My question how do I convince my hard-headed landlord?

[@Leaflimb]

Is anything actually wrong with the trees? if not, no need to fear them.

[@legalsolutions07]

If a 20' tree is cut back down to 10'-12' (primarily to remove large 8"-10" branches that overhang above a house) will it likely die or can it still survive after such a drastic topping & cutback? I'm not sure what type of tree it is but the branches have thick thorns. It is in So Cal and most leaves on this tree fall during winter for about a month otherwise it is full of leaves.

[@Leaflimb]

Topping a tree typically creates all sorts of health and structural issues. It could also kill the tree. But every situation is unique - best to find a ISA Certified Arborist or ISA Board Certified Master Arborist nearby to get a full analysis of hte tree

[@willbbackup3122]

I have a tree in my backyard that is kind of near my house, but it is leaning away from the house. It also is starting to rot in the inside, but there are still leaves. Should I remove it?

[@quotidian5077]

Hire an arborist to assess it.

[@gamerexvoid2251]

My tree has a huge split from the bottom to the top and it's about a hundred or more feet tall in the middle of my house and my nehbors. The bark is almost completely gone. My parents have been saying there going to call someone to cut it down for over a year now. Once it does, I'll have my popcorn out ready for this disaster to demolish my house or my nehbors.. Possibly one of our cars.

[@wolf-kissedrosie69]

If they do call and the people cut it down at the base of the tree then they're idiots. You're not supposed to cut a tree at the base in a residential area, especially near buildings. The risk of damaging property and/or killing someone is too high. You're supposed to cut it piece by piece working your way down the tree. That's the safest way to cut down a tree.

[@ceciliaserrano7993]

Please help me what can I do .I think my tree got a plague and it's all over the tree and my tree is big:'-(

[@JadoHandle]

I found a tree that has a red big looking pimple what is that

[@RomanumChristum]

I'm seeing a tree starting to swing during the wind,should we get it removed,or is it just I'm tired?i do see it in the dark seeing as how most of the storms here are during the night and it's when most of the wind picks up

[@Leaflimb]

A healthy tree swaying in the wind is a good thing - that is how it grows stronger

[@kevin-maggiehung4673]

That’s very helpful information. I recently remove a big branch of my bird tree (don’t know the name) but there are clear liquid continue coming from that branch cut and form some yellow discharge on the tree skin. Could you advise what is going on? I don’t know what to do? Is that normal? Thanks a lot.

[@Leaflimb]

It's hard to say without know more and/or seeing photos, but it could be sap, esp this time of the year. Spring is when sap begins to rise for many trees. Thus you may see it leaking if you recently pruned a branch.

[@kevin-maggiehung4673]

Thank you for your reply. I found out that it is a birch tree. Do I need to clean up the yellow sap on the skin? The tree also has the beetle problem. Thanks

[@Leaflimb]

@@kevin-maggiehung4673 No, I don't think you need to clean up the sap. Birches will secrete a lot of sap if pruned this time of year. As for the beetles, they may or may not be an issue. I would recommend contacting a known tree expert in your area (preferably an expert who does not cut down trees; otherwise he/she may be incentivized to tell you it needs to be removed)

[@gowrikamath6195]

I am from india what solutions can be added to save a dying to bring it alive pls suggest

[@Leaflimb]

Focus on improving the soil health. This is often the best way to rehabilitate a tree

[@Dpixtion]

My maple tree looks full and beautiful, until late June or early July, then one side if the tree leaves start to fall off both green leaves and fall-looking dry leave fall off.. just from one side. Come spring, it’s looks good again. It’s July 4th today, and I’ve filled two bags of leaves that I should be doing this in late October.. help..

[@Leaflimb]

Hi! Do you live in the Triangle area? One of our Treecologists could come out for a complimentary consultation. It's hard to really tell what is going on without seeing the tree. Email us at [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@Dpixtion]

@@Leaflimb sadly, I’m out on the west coast. I went to your site and see you’re in SC.

[@Dashiell777]

​@@DpixtionI've had the same problem I once had a bunch of Maples in my yard and then they got wiped out in the summer

[@wolf-kissedrosie69]

I definitely think our tree is sick. I have a none baring pear tree in my backyard and have had it for a few years now. It's fully grown and for years it did really good. It's always grown its leaves back and bloomed in a timely manner. In 2021, a few months before winter set in, I noticed the leaves started dying and falling off, which was unusual for our tree. It's now May and most of the tree has dead leaves on it and only a a little bit of green leaves and it only had one or two blooms on it. Again, not normal for our tree. I thought someone was poisoning it for a while. Today I took a look at the tree and noticed that the bark at the base is falling off and underneath looks rotten. It has slugs and potato bugs and other bugs hiding in it as well. I've also noticed some white stuff around those areas. My neighbor offered to cut it down a few weeks ago but I didn't wanna believe my tree was dying so I said I'd wait. I suspect it has tree rot and if the tree falls its gonna take out some stuff. If it doesn't land on a car or my neighbors garage thing, it's gonna take our fence down. And my mother just spent a couple hundred building a privacy fence. My yard isn't very wide and the tree sits in the corner of our fence. Maybe it's time to cut it down.

[@appleztooranges]

Got 2 dead trees on my hill. If they fall forward it’ll wipe my entire house out. If falls back I’m good! Tree cutter said 50/50

[@boomer3150]

ApplezToOranges: How are they now?

[@appleztooranges]

@@boomer3150 their down. I hired a pro for $1500

[@boomer3150]

@@appleztooranges Cool!😃😃

[@fatemashaik3449]

Khatarnak 😱😨😱😨

[@quotidian5077]

Are inclusions the same as splits?

[@Leaflimb]

No, an inclusion would be more along the lines of bark folding in on itself

[@davidcullen1956]

trees are huge weeds

[@RLDenham]

If a tree is starting to block my view it is dangerous in my book