[kermitology]

I've got a crab apple in my front yard that hasn't got any buds on it yet, but the branches aren't brittle or anything. Squirrels and rabbits have done a number on it's bark over the winter. Is this tree dead or almost dead? I'll be annoyed because it'll be the second time replacing that tree. The first one was planted by Blue Grass and they didn't dig far enough down through a layer of clay. I planted this one and it's been okay the past 3 years.