Mountain Ash Has No Leaves In May

Question From: Greenwood, Indiana, United States
Q: my mountain ash has no leaves on it and it is now may. Could it be dead? We had some dead branches cut last fall .

A: It was a brutal winter and many trees and shrubs were badly damaged. In Michigan they are slow to bud out this year. Give it a few more weeks. You can check branches by scratching the bark. If it is alive there will be green underneath the bark. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy.