Every spring as trees begin leafing out throughout the region, our staff receive a lot of questions from people whose trees haven’t unfurled new foliage yet. Are you wondering if your young tree is just a late leafer or if it didn’t make it? Here’s a quick way to find out:

Use your fingernail or a small knife to scratch the bark on a small twig to expose the cambium, which is a thin layer of tissue under the bark. Only a small nick is needed — do not remove large sections of bark.

If it’s green, your tree is alive!

If it’s brown, then that twig has died back. Check several locations to see if the entire tree has died.

While you can also try this test on twigs of mature trees, be safe and avoid the ladder — don’t sample anything that you can’t reach with both feet on the ground. Instead, hire a certified arborist to assess your tree.

My neighbor’s tree leafed out but mine didn’t. What’s wrong with my tree?

Assuming the tree is healthy, there could be several reasons why different trees leaf out at different times. Some types of trees are quicker to regrow leaves than others. Zelkovas are some of the earliest leafers in our region (this year they were sprouting foliage in mid-February), but there are other trees that are just now unfurling their buds. Even within the same genus, different species, varieties or cultivars can grow their leaves at different times.

Microclimate also plays a role in determining when trees will come out of dormancy. Different spots in the same yard can have varying exposure to sunlight, radiant heat, cold winds, or other factors that affect soil temperatures.

While differences between species and microclimates are the most common reasons why trees leaf out at different times, stress can cause a tree to have sparse foliage, smaller leaves, or a slower growth rate. If you are concerned about the health of your tree, we recommend that you hire a certified arborist to inspect it.

Need to replace a tree that died?

If you received the tree from the Tree Foundation, fill out a replacement application so we can help troubleshoot reasons why they tree may have died and possibly provide a replacement or recommend a different species that might do better in your landscape.

If you did not receive the tree from us but would like to request one through our free tree program, submit a request for a free siting consultation after the dead tree has been removed.