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do dead leaves mean dead branch?

6 years ago

I have a very old tree. on a couple main branches, that are probably 25 inch in diameter, the leaves have crisped up and are falling off. the remaining 3/5 of the tree coming off of other branches still has living leaves.

does 100% dead leaves on an entire branch always indicate the whole branch is dead? just wondering if after the winter maybe the leaves could come back, or whether i should cut these mammoths down before they hit something. thanks!

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Comments (3)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
No, even though all of the leaves die from a limb, it doesn't necessarily mean that the whole branch is dead. But then again, it might!

The fact that it is a very old tree is not in its favor. If this old feller is in a location where falling limbs might pose a hazard, I would contact a couple ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) arborists to come out and evaluate your tree and give you bids on treatment or removal, if necessary.

You cannot expect us to answer any questions about the health and safety of your trees without seeing the tree.
krnuttle
6 years ago
I don't know how it is where you live but in my opinion we have had strange whether this year. We have had several periods of high temperature and humidity followed by periods of below normal temperature and low humidity. This cycle has not occurred once but a couple of times.

This has probably create a lot of stress in the vegetation and trees. Because of these stress full conditions it is possible that one of the reaction to this stress is that trees to drop their leaves early.

I would do nothing until next fall and see how the tree responds next year.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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we should first ID the tree .. then evaluate the situation .. then consider location.. etc ...

pix will assist .. and tell us where you are ...

ken

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