How to Tell If a Tree
Is Dead or Dying
Eight warning signs Wentzville homeowners can check right now — plus the simple scratch test that gives you a definitive answer in 30 seconds. Know when to act before a dead tree becomes an emergency.
Not sure? Get a
Free
On-site tree assessment · No obligation
Call (636) 288-5568 Request Online✓ Honest advice · No pressure
Why It Matters to Know Early
A dead or dying tree doesn't announce itself. It looks like a living tree — until it doesn't. The difference between catching a dying tree early and dealing with it after it falls can be the difference between a $400 removal and a $4,000 emergency. Dead trees lose structural integrity quietly, and Missouri's spring and summer storm seasons provide the wind events that trigger failure.
The good news: there are clear, observable warning signs that any homeowner can check from the ground. You don't need an arborist to do a first pass — you just need to know what to look for.
The Scratch Test — Your First Step
Before checking any other signs, do the scratch test. It's the most reliable DIY method for confirming whether a branch is alive or dead, and you can do it in 30 seconds with your fingernail.
How to do the scratch test
Find a small twig or young branch — pencil-thickness or smaller. Use your fingernail or the tip of a pocket knife to scratch a small section of the outer bark away. Look at the tissue immediately underneath.
Test several branches from different parts of the canopy — low, mid, and high. A tree can be partially dead with living branches and dead branches present at the same time.
8 Warning Signs Your Tree Is Dead or Dying
Check these signs from the ground — no climbing required. The more of these you observe on one tree, the more urgent the situation.
No leaves during growing season
The most obvious sign. If your tree has no leaves — or significantly fewer leaves than normal — while neighboring trees of the same species are fully leafed out in spring and summer, something is seriously wrong. Partial leaf coverage (leaves on lower branches only, or on one side of the canopy) suggests dieback that warrants immediate assessment.
⚠ High urgencyDead branches throughout the canopy
A few dead branches is normal in any large tree — called "natural pruning." But if you see widespread dead branches across the canopy — especially if they're spreading from the top down — the tree is in serious decline. Dead branches also pose an immediate dropping hazard independent of the tree's overall health.
⚠ High urgency if near structuresBark falling off or large bare patches
Healthy trees hold their bark tightly. When a tree dies, the bark loses its connection to the living tissue beneath and begins to peel, crack, or fall away in large sections. Large bare patches of wood exposed on the trunk or major branches is a strong indicator of death or advanced decline. This is especially significant on ash trees — it's a late-stage EAB sign.
⚠ High urgencyFungal growth at the base or on the trunk
Mushrooms, shelf fungi (bracket fungi), or other fungal fruiting bodies growing from the trunk, major roots, or at the base of the tree indicate significant internal decay — often invisible from the outside. The presence of fungi means the wood is already being decomposed from within. This is a structural failure warning sign even if the tree still has leaves.
⚠ Structural concern — assess immediatelyCracks or cavities in the trunk
Deep cracks running vertically or horizontally through the trunk, or visible hollow cavities, indicate internal decay and structural compromise. A tree with a significant hollow in its trunk or major crotch can still appear healthy in its canopy while being structurally unsound at its most critical structural points. Look for any opening where you can see into the wood.
⚠ Structural concernLeaning that has changed or increased
Many trees have a natural lean that has been stable for years — that's generally not a concern. What matters is a lean that has changed recently, or a newly developed lean accompanied by soil heaving or root exposure at the base. A tree that has begun leaning toward your home after a storm or over a season is a structural emergency.
⚠ Context-dependent — assess promptlyEpicormic sprouting from the trunk
Clusters of weak, spindly shoots growing directly from the trunk or major branches — rather than from normal branch growth points — signal a tree under severe stress. Called epicormic growth, these shoots are the tree's last-resort attempt to produce foliage when its normal canopy is failing. They're a strong indicator of disease, pest damage (especially EAB in ash trees), or advanced decline.
⚠ Investigate the causeRoot damage or soil disturbance
Visible root damage from construction, grade changes, soil compaction, or flooding can kill a large tree over 2–5 years — often while the tree still looks mostly healthy above ground. If significant root work happened near a tree in recent years and the tree is now in decline, root damage is a likely cause. Soil heaving at the base indicates active root failure and is a structural emergency.
⚠ Monitor closelyWhy Dead Trees Are Dangerous in Wentzville
Missouri's severe weather season makes a dead tree especially hazardous. St. Charles County sees 70+ severe storm days per year — with spring tornadoes, summer derechos, and straight-line wind events that regularly produce 60+ mph gusts. A living tree flexes in those conditions. A dead tree doesn't.
Roof & structure damage
A single large dead limb over your home is enough. Roof repairs from tree damage average $3,000–$12,000+.
Vehicle damage
A dead tree near your driveway or parking area is a vehicle hazard every storm season.
Power line contact
Dead trees near utility lines are an electrocution and outage risk — report to Ameren Missouri at 1-800-552-7583.
Liability exposure
If you knew a tree was dead and it fell on a neighbor's property, your insurance may deny the claim.
EAB-Killed Ash Trees Are the Most Urgent Case in Wentzville
If your dying or dead tree is an ash — identified by its diamond-patterned bark, opposite branching, and compound leaves — the emerald ash borer is the likely culprit. EAB-killed ash trees deteriorate faster than almost any other species. The same larval galleries that kill the tree also accelerate wood decay throughout the trunk and main branches. An ash tree that died this season can already have dangerously brittle wood by next spring. Don't wait on ash trees.
When to Call a Professional vs. Wait and Watch
Not every struggling tree needs immediate removal. Here's how to think about urgency:
Call immediately if the tree is near your home, car, fence, power lines, or any area where people spend time. Proximity to structures and occupied areas turns a "probably dead" assessment into a genuine safety issue regardless of how certain you are. Our free assessment visit takes about 15 minutes and tells you definitively what you're dealing with.
Schedule an assessment soon (within a few weeks) if the tree shows multiple signs from the list above but isn't immediately adjacent to a structure. Don't let "I'll get to it" become a post-storm emergency. The removal cost is always lower for a standing tree than a fallen one.
Monitor and recheck if you only see one or two mild signs — slight leaf reduction, a few dead branches, minor bark issues on otherwise healthy-looking trees. Do the scratch test, document what you see, and check again in 4–6 weeks. Some trees recover from stress; others don't. If things worsen, call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Think Your Tree Might
Be Dead or Dying?
Don't guess — get a free on-site assessment. We'll tell you exactly what's happening with your tree and what your options are.