No leaves during the growing season
Brittle, dry twigs that snap easily
Bark peeling off in large sections
No buds or new growth in spring
Dead branches throughout the canopy
Fungal growth on trunk or roots
Soft, hollow, or decayed wood
No green tissue under a small scratch in the bark
Leaning severely or unstable trunk
Roots exposed, rotting, or damaged
No flexibility in small branches
Tree does not leaf out after normal seasonal timing