Hm.. Not sure how certain you are it is dead.. Trees can also just be slow. After all, spring is just starting in most parts of the world Where are you located?). For the first 3 months of spring do not toss it, but put it in a sheltered location and water sparingly. Sometimes 'obviously dead' plants bounce right back. (e.g.: I have taken a ficus cutting, from a branch I found in Italy; Placed it in a pot wrapped in foil. It took 6 months to root, and 8 months for the first leaves to appear. It ended up growing to 3 meter tall tree in my office within 3 years; Also Creatagus may have trouble leafing out in spring, and all of the sudden bounce back, up to the spring one year later).
I cannot see the plant, so I cannot tell. For me, I would just keep the plant for the time being.