How long do mahonia shrubs last - is mine dead?

I've got a mahonia and it does not have any greenery - is it dead and ready to be got rid of, or is there something I should do to rejuvenate it?
I tried cutting into the bark a bit - see close up photo.
Many thanks.

 

It may be time to replace it.
The bit in the photo looks very dead.
You can try scraping the bark close to the ground - if you can see a thin layer of green just under the bark, it's still alive and will probably re-shoot.
If there no green just under the bark close to the ground, it's dead.

 

I think that passed the bark scraping stage some time ago. I have one that's about 25 years old but no idea how much longer it will go on. I though it was dying in the summer of 22 but it came back. I think it's not the glorious shrub it used to be though

 

I would agree that one is probably a gonna. Time for a visit to a garden centre for a replacement!

 

Its odd why it should die, I have one that is at least 30yrs old and I have to hack it back every other year, I thought they went on for ever.
Of course it might depend on variety as to how long lived they are.

I agree, yours is brown bread I'm afraid.

 

Me too.
I planted a bog-standard one all those years ago and eventually decided I didn't really like it.
Every few years I cut it back as close to the ground as I can manage and off it goes again - it always recovers.
The flowers do brighten-up a winter's day, so I'll carry on with the same regime until one or the other of us gives up

 

Many thanks all! Good to know it is definitely time for it to go. I went and checked near the ground and it did confirm it doesn't have any green there.
It is funny it went like this, as I did kind of expect it would just keep going, though pete mentioned it probably depends on the variety.
Ah well! I might find something different for that spot for a change now.