"I have a tree on my property that failed to produce leaves last spring, is it dead"?

Another similar question is "The leaves on my tree all turned brown over the summer, is it dead"?

“During the spring and summer of 2018, the impact of previous years’ drought, defoliation from the Gypsy Moth, and secondary opportunistic pathogens became apparent as tens of thousands of roadside trees throughout eastern Connecticut and thousands of acres of oak woodlands exhibited severe mortality.” - Tom Worthley, Extension Associate Extension Professor

If your tree did not produce leaves last season, it is most likely dead and won’t produce leaves next year. This mortality is likely the result of invasive exotic insect pests in combination with drought conditions.

• Trees that produced leaves this spring, but turned brown this summer have also died, due to secondary opportunistic pathogens taking advantage of stressed trees.
• Ash trees that are dead decay quickly. Small twigs and branches will start dropping immediately, with larger branches dropping over the next several months. Depending on lean, the trunk might drop any time during the coming year or two.
• Oak trees decay more slowly. Small twigs and branches will begin to drop this fall and winter, with larger branches dropping over the next year or two. The main trunk and limbs of oaks might retain some structural integrity for several years, but again, depending on lean, the trunk will tip over eventually as the root system rots away.
• Removing dead trees is dangerous. Without proper training and safety equipment, people are easily injured. Professional help is strongly encouraged. Near houses and structures, seek the help of an arborist. A listing can be found at the web site of the CT Tree Protective Association.
• Dead trees are dangerous. Please do not attempt to remove or harvest dead trees on your own without proper personal protective equipment (PPE) (chaps, hardhat, eye and ear protection), and appropriate chain saw safety training. There are no chain saw experts or professionals that do not use PPE.
• To address affect stands on forested lands, the help of a CT Certified Forester is suggested. Be patient and persistent. The problem of tree mortality in our area has arborists and forestry firms working at full capacity, and they’re likely to be fully booked for some time.
• If you are planning to use dead trees for firewood, please do not transport the wood to other states. Use it/burn it near where it has been harvested, to avoid spreading pests and pathogens.

Learn More

• The Slow Storm: Tree Mortality in Connecticut from Invasive Insect Pests

Extension Specialist

Tom Worthley Extension Associate Extension Professor, Forestry Program, Forest Sustainability Thomas.Worthley@uconn.edu (860) 345-5232 Tom Worthley is Associate Extension Professor at UConn College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. He has written a number of scholarly articles and also teaches courses in Forest Ecology and Management and Dendrology. He has worked extensively on tracts in the UConn Forest and beyond in both outreach and educational activities.

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