Oak Tree Sudden Leaf Browning: Dead or Dormant?

An oak in Fort Worth turned brown overnight in August 2008. By March, acorns are present. Some oaks hold leaves until new buds swell. Check viability: scrape bark on twigs—green underneath means alive. If brown, work downward until green found. Prune dead portions. Wait until May to see if it leafs out. Don't let anyone cut it prematurely; dead trees stand for years.

Viability Test

1. Scrape twig bark with fingernail.
2. Green = alive; brown = dead at that point.
3. Check multiple branches, especially high ones.