Does Your Yard Have a Zombie Tree? Here's How to Tell

It’s springtime, and the trees and flowers are finally starting to bloom again. But what if you’ve got a tree or two in your yard that isn’t growing leaves like it normally would? Well, that might mean you have a zombie tree.

Zombie trees aren’t just something out of a horror movie. This is a real term for a tree that is either dying or completely dead—but because trees can stay standing long after they’re gone, you might have one in your yard right now.

Read on to learn more about these dead-yet-undead trees, how to identify them, and what to do after you find one.

Zombie trees pose the most danger due to their instability. Trees are typically able to sway with the wind during storms or periods of high wind, preventing them from toppling over—and zombie trees have rotted on the inside, making their trunks extremely brittle.

While other trees can survive winds even over 60 miles per hour, a zombie tree likely won’t be able to withstand a regular storm. The trunk can break unpredictably, and if a zombie tree is near your house, car, or yard, this can present a serious problem for your property.

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Some signs of zombie trees will be easy to spot. Spring is a great time to look around your yard for trees with large sections of discolored leaves, or trees that should have produced leaves by now, but haven't. This is a sign that something is wrong with your tree.

If your tree is completely dead, you’ll notice it stops blooming or producing leaves during seasons where it would typically show foliage.

Other signs of a zombie tree may be slightly less obvious, requiring you to check the trees on your property more closely to ensure they’re still healthy. On a zombie tree, you might notice signs of