Question
Hello, my name is Keith and I planted a weeping cherry tree in early spring of 2008. I regularly watered tree and was able to enjoy beautiful blossoms up until about June of 2008. The tree grew very well with new limbs and such but about in middle of July all of the leaves died and the tree turned brown. Just curious if the tree is dead. Someone told me to wait and see if it comes back but it is now early April 2009 and no blooms or buds yet. Can you tell me if it is dead or how to check if its dead. Thanks Keith, Cherryville, NC.  

Answer
To tell if the tree is dead start near the end of an upper branch and scrape a small bit of bark off the branch--if the color under the bark is green the branch is still alive at this point on the branch. If the color is brown the branch is dead at this point on the branch if brown continue down the branch scraping at intervals until you find green or reach the trunk. Try other branches until you find green. Also the branchs should be limber not brittle and easily snapped if they are alive. If you find greeen you can wait untilt he branchs leaf out and then prune the dead parts off. BUT if the leaves tunred in July I would think you will find the tree is dead.