Question
All of our tulip poplar trees have the "scale" disease.  They are approximately 12-14" diameter.  The trees showed wilt in early spring just after flowering (around April) and have gotten worse to the point ALL the leaves are completely brown and are now falling.  Branches seem to be brittle and dead.  NO color left in the tree or leaves.  My question is, are the trees dead?  Should we cut them now, or wait until next year?  Will they come back next year?

Answer
Check and see if the tree is dead by getting a branch as high up as you can and scraping the bark off--if the color under the bark is green the branch is still alive. The branch should also be flexible and band without snapping in two. IF the branches are dead I am sorry they will not come back next year. IF they are still green the tree is still alive and more than likely will leaf out again. I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. Treat ONLY if the tree is still alive. But from what you are saying it does not look good. Here is a web link to this product.

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/tree-shrub-care/products/12-month-tree-shrub-insect