Trees add a lot of value to your property, providing shade and adding curb appeal to your home. Healthy trees typically do not need much attention, other than judicious pruning when necessary, but dying or dead trees are a different story. The following article looks at some essential information about dying and dead trees every homeowner needs to know.

Signs 

Certain signs will tell you if you have a dead or dying tree on your hands. A lack of foliage during the growing season is an indication that the tree is not healthy. Also, check the bark. The bark on a dead or dying tree is brittle and falls off easily. A dead deciduous tree might also have brown leaves that do not drop off in the fall but remain on the branches during winter.

Dead and dying trees typically have numerous dead branches and often have mushrooms present near the roots. Check for insect infestations, as pests tend to attack dying or dead trees. Another major warning sign is a tree that leans more than 15 degrees. Large trees with this type of significant lean will usually die.

Test

Because dead and dying trees tend to present the same symptoms, is often difficult to tell if a tree is dead or still alive. To test whether a tree is dead or not take a small penknife and remove a small amount of bark from the trunk, just enough so that you can see the tissue beneath the bark. If the tissue, which is called the cambium, is green, the tree is still living. If the cambium is brown, the tree is dead.

Saved

If a tree is dead, there is no bringing it back to life. Whether you can save a tree that is sick or dying depends on the severity of the problem. You will need the assistance of a tree service professional to determine if the tree can be saved.

Removal

When you have determined that a tree is dead, experts advise you to go ahead and have it removed. Dead trees are dangerous because they can fall at any time and there is no way to predict when this will happen. Also, dead trees attract a variety of pests. Sometimes even rats will make their nests in trees. A dead tree could have a negative impact on other trees in your yard as well. For instance, if a fungus is present in the dead tree, it could potentially spread to the healthy trees on your property.

To learn more about dead and dying trees and when to remove them, contact a company such as Smitty's Tree Service Inc.