We live in So. Cal and during a cold spell our tree over night turned brown..just the leaves. There are couple of green leaves but mostly brown..they are now falling off. We assumed that the tree is dead and was going to remove it but the trunk still looks nice and healthy. How do we know if it's dead or not?
2007-03-03 11:21:42 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
it's a ficus tree..I think Laurel
2007-03-03 13:29:27 · update #1
I would just leave it alone for the moment. As the spring progresses, you will most likely see it start to leaf out again. When you start seeing greenery you can cut off parts that are not getting new growth.
If you don't like the 'wait and see' method, you can start by cutting the tip of a branch. If it's brown all the way through, cut a little higher. Keep going til you find greenwood, then stop. If you never find greenwood and keep cutting deeper til you get into the trunk, the tree is dead.
2007-03-03 11:54:04 · answer #1 · answered by heart o' gold 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You didn't say what kind of tree but I really doubt the tree died becuase of a cold spell. It's easy to believe it went dormant though. Wait a bit and check for signs of new growth in th spring or summer.. if the bark starts to loosen and sluff off, you have a dead tree, but not just leaf drop. Patience.
Like some of the other answers, you can check the cambien layer, and flex of branches, but like the other answer, I would give it a year to re coop. Very few trees are killed by a cold snap. though damage can be extensive. Some grow back from te root stock, even if killed above ground. If you know the type of tree, you can check with the cooperative extension site for cal. and check it's hardiness. I am in the mid atlantic and we have lots of trees that go dormant when the cold hits, but some of the exotics can't grow here.Again, don't panic, give it time.
2007-03-03 19:54:16 · answer #2 · answered by character 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure your tree is fine. If it got to cold the tree could have froze. The leaves would turn brown and then drop. It should push out new growth. You can scrape the bark layer on a branch and see if there is any green under the bark. If you see green your tree is still alive. If you see only brown that branch is dead. Check several branches before you make you final decision. Good Luck I hope you see green.
2007-03-03 22:15:36 · answer #3 · answered by lilygirlcat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bend some of the end of the twigs and branches, if they snap off and show brown thru the middle, then it's dead. If there's green or it bend and doesn't break in half, then it's still fighting to live. Scrap the bark to the cambien layer, it's less then 1.4 inch below bark level, if it's green, then tree is still alive. Just keep eye on it and if no new leaves come out and stay, then it propbably will need to come down.
2007-03-03 19:29:55 · answer #4 · answered by ccs29745 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you go and break any branches (which will in fact let you know if your tree is alive or dead) look to see if there are any buds on the branches. Freezing temps can shock some trees in your area, but they should bounce back just fine with a little bit of time.
2007-03-03 20:13:22 · answer #5 · answered by JakeW 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT ASSUME IT IS DEAD. Leave it alone and give it a chance to come back. You didn't mention what type of tree it was.
But here in Florida we have that happen to tropicals also when we have a cold spell. Most will come back in the spring most likely.
2007-03-03 19:49:17 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
take one branch and break it and if it is green in the middle then it is alive. It might be whitish green depending on the tree.
2007-03-03 19:26:05 · answer #7 · answered by Brittney U 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
give it a year and see if you get any new leaf growth...hard to believe it would die so sudden
2007-03-03 19:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If it doesn't revive in the spring.
2007-03-04 13:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by Will 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋