Twig Testing in Biltmore Forest, NC
During the twig test you should always precede it with a strong visual inspection of the tree. Keep an eye out for things like fungus, small cracks, large cracks, open wounds, branches growing low to the base of the tree, and lack of growing leaves. For the twig test you want to start by finding a small branch off of the tree. When you break the branch you want to look inside the separate ends of the two you have in your hands. The inside of the branches should be green; if it is still green the tree is still living. However, if the inside is brown, black, or gray it is dead. You can also test this method by feeling the inside of the branches, are they moist? If so the tree is still alive, a dead tree will be dry on the inside.
When you broke the branch, was it done easily with little to no effort? If you answered yes than chances are your tree is dying, as this type of wood is called deadwood. However, keep in mind that the entire tree may not be dying. It’s always possible only a section of the tree is in trouble. You can double check this by performing the twig test on branches from different parts of the tree.