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Live tree aging

Fishbonker

Fishbonker

Life Member
Is there any reliable “rule of thumb” for judging the age of an oak tree, or any tree species, by measuring their circumference and determining their diameter? Sort of “aging on the hoof” so to speak, so if I have an oak tree (red or white) that is X inches in diameter is there a formula for figuring its’ age? Lots of variables, but I’m just looking for a ball park.

The ‘Bonker
 
Thanks for the link. The chart was kinda messed up on my screen but good enough to figure out the gist of it.

Now for the big question, what do you (anybody) think? Is it accurate?

I meant to post this in the management forum but messed up. Please feel free to move it.

The ‘Bonker
 
That chart might give a general idea, but I would think individual environmental conditions would greatly affect one tree to another. A lone oak tree growing in a mineral rich environment without any shading competition would have to outgrow an identical oak tree growing in poor soil that was only receiving partial sunlight. After spending some time with a state forester this year I'm amazed at how old some of the very smallest oak trees can be. A pinky sized oak tree that barely reaches your knee can be ten years old depending on where it's growing.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: muddy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just cut it down and count the growth rings Bonks. </div></div>

You beat me to it Mud!!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
I guess the growth rings are the only way I really know how to tell. Sometimes, if you notice on the biggest,oldest oak trees, their branches will seem to all grow straight out rather than up and out. This is because these trees are so old that they were there when Iowa was basically still prarie and that tree was probably the only tree in the area and had no competition.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blaster</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: muddy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just cut it down and count the growth rings Bonks. </div></div>

You beat me to it Mud!!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif </div></div>

.....and reattach it with "wood glue". /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Seriously, I think Critter hit the nail on the head. Depends on the conditions.
 
who cares how old it is. If it's big enough for a stand, it old enough.
Besides Bonker, I was told you should remember when most of them started to grow /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
That's what someone told me anyhow
mhihi.gif
right Tom?
eek7.gif
 
Yeah, I forgot when it was that I planted the acorns and the boogers are darn near 4 feet in diameter now. I was hoping a chart would jog my feeble memory

I just get a sense of history when I'm around big old oaks. I have a few here that are like I said darn near 4 feet. I just wanted to know how long they have been here.

I understand about the variables. I think the chart is a little skewed. A 10 inch shag bark hicory is 102 years old? Around here a 10 inch shag bark is closer to 10 years old.

The 'Bonker
 
We have some old oaks that were logged a couple years ago.They are close to 4ft. Counted the rings and got about 150 years old give or take.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowstring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We have some old oaks that were logged a couple years ago.They are close to 4ft. Counted the rings and got about 150 years old give or take. </div></div>

My point exactly. According to the chart from Chicago wilderness my oaks should be red 263 and white 298 years old. I'd like to think the trees were here in the mid 1700s but for some reason I don't think they are that old.

The 'Bonker
 
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