How do you know when a tree is dead?

[Steph-B]

One of the trees in my garden doesn’t seem to have survived the winter. See pix below: leaves are all brown whereas normally they are green. Is there any hope it will ever recover or should I get it removed now does anyone know?

 

Does anyone know what it is by the way?

 

The third photo is a kind of sapling which started growing beside it last year - any advice on that would also be welcome. Not sure if it’s the same sort of tree or something different - or whether I should remove that as well while it’s still small.

 

Thanks for your help. This is my first post :-)

 

 

Steph

[Steve Bullman]

Dead as a bag full of dead things that is.  Theres a remotely slim chance that you could cut it back to a short stump and it could reshoot, unlikely though looking at the pic

[Darrin Turnbull]

Looks quite dead . Examine the bark for dryness by cutting a small nick in it.

 

[Steph-B]

Thanks very much for your quick replies - even bearing bad news. Well I was never that fond of it. And I fancy one of these plum trees with purply leaves as a replacement - I think the ash will have to go as well :-(

 

best

 

 

Steph

[Graham]

It's reminiscent of Japanese loquat.  Which part of the country are you in?

[skyhuck]

To answer the post question, use your thumb nail or a knife to scrape the bark off a few twigs, if its green under the bark there is hope, if its brown there is no hope.

[Stere]

What plum tree has purple leaves? ?

[Steve Bullman]

ermmm a purple plum perhaps

 

prunus cerasifera atropurpurea

[Gary Prentice]

51 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

ermmm a purple plum perhaps

 

prunus cerasifera atropurpurea

You forgot; Prunus cerasifera 'Newport', 'Nigra', Krauter Vesuvius',  'Purple Pony' & 'Thundercloud' 

[Steve Bullman]

2 minutes ago, Gary Prentice said:

You forgot; Prunus cerasifera 'Newport', 'Nigra', Krauter Vesuvius',  'Purple Pony' & 'Thundercloud' 

well seeings as we are being pedantic, you forgot pissardii ?