Glossary term
What is Dieback?
Short answer
Dieback is the slow death of twigs and branches starting at the tips and moving back toward the trunk.
Dieback, explained for tree service owners
Dieback is when the ends of branches die first and the dead area moves back toward the trunk over time. It can come from drought, root damage, soil changes, pests, disease or past injury. A tree with dieback often has bare tips at the top of the crown and thin leaf cover. For a tree service owner, dieback is a common reason a homeowner calls. The tricky part is that it is a symptom, not a cause, so you cannot tell what is wrong from one look. Say what you see, suggest a closer check of roots, soil and pests, and be honest when a tree may not recover. Pruning out dead wood can help safety.
Related terms
- Crown
Crown is the upper part of a tree made of branches, twigs and leaves, growing from the trunk.
- Canker
A canker is a sunken, dead or swollen patch on bark, branch or trunk, often caused by a fungus or bacteria.
- Defoliation
Defoliation is the loss of leaves from a tree outside the normal fall drop, often caused by insects, disease or weather.
- Xylem and phloem
Xylem and phloem are the two tissue systems that move water up and sugars through a tree.
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