Is My Tree Dying? 9 Warning Signs for Central Texas Trees

Central Texas is tough on trees. Long droughts, extreme summer heat, shallow rocky soil and occasional hard freezes all take a toll, and trees often decline slowly before they fail suddenly. Here's what to look for.

1. Dead branches in a living tree

Limbs with no leaves while the rest of the tree is green, or bark peeling off a branch, mean that limb is dead. Dead limbs eventually fall, often in the next storm. They can be removed without removing the tree.

2. Leaves turning brown or dropping out of season

Browning or leaf drop in late spring or summer can mean drought stress, root damage or disease. In live oaks, leaves with yellow or brown veins can be a sign of oak wilt. See when to trim oak trees.

3. A thinning canopy

If you can see more sky through the canopy each year, the tree is declining. Compare photos from past summers if you have them.

4. Peeling bark and gray or black crusty patches

On oaks, sheets of bark falling off and patches of tan, gray or black crust underneath can be hypoxylon canker, a fungus that attacks trees already weakened by drought or root damage. It usually means the tree is severely stressed or dying. See hypoxylon canker.

5. Mushrooms or fungus at the base

Mushrooms, conks (shelf-like fungus) or soft, spongy wood at the base or on the roots often mean internal decay, which weakens the tree's structural strength even if the canopy still looks green.

6. Cracks in the trunk or major limbs

Deep vertical cracks, or a split where two big trunks meet (especially with bark pinched into the joint), are common failure points in storms.

7. A new or worsening lean

Trees often lean naturally. A lean that appears suddenly, gets worse, or comes with soil heaving or cracking on the opposite side is a serious warning sign.

8. Root damage

Construction, trenching, a new driveway or a soil grade change within the root zone can kill a tree slowly over several years. Many trees in newer Leander and Cedar Park neighborhoods were stressed during development and decline years later.

9. Sprouts from the base or trunk

Lots of new shoots from the base or trunk can mean the tree is under stress and trying to survive.

Is it dead? A quick test

Scratch a small spot of bark on a twig with your fingernail. Green underneath means that part is alive. Brown and dry means it's dead. Check several branches in different parts of the tree.

Dying vs. dangerous

A dying tree in the middle of an open field can wait. A dying tree over the house, driveway, play area or street should be dealt with soon. Dead trees get more brittle over time, which makes removal harder and riskier the longer you wait. Insurers can also deny claims for damage from a dead tree you knew about. See tree fell on my house: who pays?

Can a stressed tree be saved?

Sometimes. Deep, slow watering during drought, mulch over the root zone (not piled against the trunk), removing deadwood and protecting the roots from compaction can help a stressed tree recover. Trees with major decay, advanced hypoxylon or confirmed oak wilt in a red oak usually can't be saved.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my tree is dead or just dormant? Do the scratch test on twigs in several spots. Green tissue under the bark means it's alive. Dormant deciduous trees still have green under the bark in winter.

Why are so many trees dying in Central Texas? Drought, extreme heat, shallow soils, construction damage and diseases like oak wilt and hypoxylon canker all contribute, often in combination.

Should I remove a dying tree? If it's near a house, driveway, fence or play area, yes, before it becomes dangerous or more expensive to remove.

Can a tree with dead branches be saved? Often yes, if the dead limbs are limited. Removing deadwood and reducing stress can extend the tree's life.

Worried about a tree?

Use the form below with photos of the whole tree, the trunk and the problem area. We'll tell you honestly whether it needs to come down, be trimmed or be left alone. More on our tree service.