how can I tell if a tree I planted 1 year ago is dead .

Question

The deer where eating all the leaves and now there are no leaves but does have branches but are brown

Answer 1

Spray that tree with 2 tablespoon dawn and some hot sauce.about 5 to 8 drops...in 1 qt container and spray it good..............wait until you see this spring into june............if it does not show prebuds.............I is probably gone................If you plant another one you will have to put a fence around it and 2 stakes to keep it in place.  We have the same problem up here.  Deer even stand on their back feet to reach up high and pull branches down.