How to Tell If a Tree Is Dead in Brookings
Every fact cited
The scratch test remains the most reliable home check: nick the bark on several branches with a knife. Green tissue underneath means the branch is alive; brown, dry tissue throughout means it’s dead. Check multiple spots, since decline can happen unevenly across a canopy.
Beyond that, sloughing bark, fungal growth on the trunk, a canopy that stayed bare through a full growing season, and for ash specifically, D-shaped EAB exit holes combined with significant canopy loss, are all strong indicators. A dead ash that’s already lost most of its canopy is generally past the point where treatment would help.
Can the City Forestry Division confirm whether my boulevard tree is dead?
Yes — they're actively managing EAB response citywide and can assess boulevard trees directly as part of that program.