Age of Trees

[WoodNymph]

How can you generally tell how old a tree is? I know some are obvious due to size, bark etc but how would I know how old (or young) a small common oak is? Is there a general way of guaging the age, obviously, without cutting it down (which I obviously would NOT do ) and counting the rings?

[Alan]

This is a difficult one due to growing conditions in any given area. For older trees try the following link. It's a pdf file, so you'll need Acrobat reader installed to view it.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/PDF.nsf/pdf/fcin12.pdf/$FILE/fcin12.pdf

edit: the link wont seem to work by clicking on it, so copy/paste it into browser web address box.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by WoodNymph

How can you generally tell how old a tree is? I know some are obvious due to size, bark etc but how would I know how old (or young) a small common oak is? Is there a general way of guaging the age, obviously, without cutting it down (which I obviously would NOT do ) and counting the rings?

Easy, just ask them..........

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Easy, just ask them..........

These days they ignore me though

.....I must be better now!

[henrya]

You can get a gadget called (as I recall) a tree-borer. You screw it into the tree and it brings out a long slender core in which you can count the tree rings. Does minimal damage to the tree. Not sure if they work on hardwoods - I only ever used them on softwoods (University Forestry course, long ago!)

henrya

[WoodNymph]

Originally Posted by Alan

This is a difficult one due to growing conditions in any given area. For older trees try the following link. It's a pdf file, so you'll need Acrobat reader installed to view it.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/PDF.nsf/pdf/fcin12.pdf/$FILE/fcin12.pdf

edit: the link wont seem to work by clicking on it, so copy/paste it into browser web address box.

There isn't an easy way then! Thanks for the link, perhaps I'll keep on tree hugging to see if they do tell me

[FungiJohn]

Or

http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/do...nt/tcn_age.pdf

The incremental borer someone mentioned will damage the tree

[henrya]

Quote
The incremental borer someone mentioned will damage the tree
Endquote

But if foresters are prepared to use them, I'd guess the damage can't be serious. The holes are quite small and will heal quickly.

henrya

[nightshade]

I Wood Nymph is this any good? http://www.groundwork-bc.org.uk/artm...ree_dating.doc

[WoodNymph]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I Wood Nymph is this any good? http://www.groundwork-bc.org.uk/artm...ree_dating.doc

Thanks Nightshade, that's certainly easy enough and at least you can get an approximate age