Show us some dormant buds.

Here are a couple. Some spots don’t really have many buds

Those don’t look great. If you rub a bud does it crumble? Or is it moist? In any case, there is no point in doing anything now. Wait until summer to see which parts leaf out. And where are you located? Are other trees beginning to bud out?

where are you.. big city name.. great plains doesnt mean much to me....

are the other trees budding out???

what do you mean.. 1.5 inch caliper trees in bags... any pix of that'???

how did you plant them.. water.. etc ... whats your base soil.. etc ...

we can talk about it for all the rest of spring.. but the real answer will come when it buds out.. or on what part of the tree ...

ken

Some of the early flowering trees are staring to come out here, but not a lot else. I’m in central Oklahoma.
My real question is about the scratch test. Is it hard and fast that all live branches should have green under them with a scratch or does this only happen after the sap begins to flow again in spring? In the dead of winter should the green be there or does that move down the tree?

I consider the 'scratch test' only as a last resort. If everything else is growing around me and it's getting late in the spring, I'll do the scratch test to see if the dormant/dead tree is completely dead.

I agree that the pictures show some shriveling on the outer bark and buds.

Best thing would be to talk to your supplier about it.

Soil temperatures can vary according to areas, causing different trees to come out of dormancy at different times.

Yes, generally living trees will have a very thin layer of green just below the outer bark.

I'm going to agree with BillMN on this - the 'scratch test' is not a reliable indicator of tree vitality. Even a dead branch could show a thin layer of green cambium under the bark as it takes time for a tree even in death to lose all the moisture in its tissues and the cambium dry and turn brown.

Instead, especially at this time of year, the focus should be on the buds. If the bud are plump and firm - not dry or squishy - then chances are very good the tree will come to life and leaf out properly when nature intends.

Rather then the 'scratch test' I usually use the pliability test or the bud rub test. Dead twigs usually snap rather than bending and dead buds flake off rather then being moist and green inside. But I rarely do any test since it is usually possibly to tell if a tree is alive or dead just by looking at it, once one has had a bit of experience.

I took a good look at some London Plane branches this morning and some of the buds did look a bit ike yours although those which were going to flower were much bigger and fatter.

As I said, it doesn't really matter that you can't tell at this stage since all you need to do is wait.

' it is usually possibly to tell if a tree is alive or dead just by looking at it '

I for one hope to be there someday. :-)

Will definitely just watch them through spring. I think I’d be surprised if they have even had time to die yet. We’re dug from the field only 60 days ago.

If you're getting enough rain, great!

Otherwise keep checking soil moisture every week and water if needed.

Some warm weather would sure help.