how do you find the age of a tree without cutting it down?
2006-10-18 00:48:58 · 16 answers · asked by itsmeyouknow 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Using a tape measure or ruler, measure 1.5 metres from the ground.
Then from this point measure the circumference of the tree in centimetres.
Although it is not highly accurate, assume that 2.5cm = 1 year of growth and calculate the number of years of growth by dividing the circumference by 2.5.
So a tree with a circumference of 250cm would be about 100 years old.
1. Choose a tree and identify it using the tree leaf guide (ID2)
2. Using a tape measure or ruler, measure 1.5 metres from the ground.
3. Then from this point measure the girth (or circumference) of the tree in centimetres.
Trees grow at different speeds with the circumference increasing at an average of 2.5cm a year. The figures below show the rate at which different trees grow.
Holly, Yew 1.25 cm/year
Oare Gunpowder Works Wildlife Activity Sheet 13
Oak 1.88 cm/year
Ash, Beech, Elm, Hazel 2.50 cm/year
Sycamore 2.75 cm/year
Pine, Spruce 3.13 cm/year
When you are back at school, use these figures to calculate the age of your chosen trees. Divide the circumference by the growth rate figure for your tree. A calculator may help!
For example if your chosen tree is an oak tree that measures 110cm you would need to do the following sum: 110 ÷ 1.88 = 58.5 years (round up to 59 years old).
until this part was from:http://www.gunpowderworks.co.uk/pdf/W13_How_to_find_out_the_age_of_a_tree.pdf
andhttp://www.gunpowderworks.co.uk/pdf/W12_How_to_find_out_the_age_of_a_tree.pdf
this is fromhttp://www.uksafari.com/treeage.htm
When you look through a section of a tree, you can work out the age of the tree by counting the number of concentric rings. There's one ring for every year of the trees life. Of course to find the age of the tree by this method you have to cut the tree down.
Here's an alternative and faster way to estimate the age of a tree. Take a tape and measure the girth (distance around the trunk) approximately 150cms. from the ground.
If the tree is growing close to other trees, and it has a tall straight trunk, it will have been struggling to grow up to the sunlight, so every 12mms. of girth equals one year of growth.
If the tree is standing on its own with plenty of side branches growing from the trunk, then every 25 mm. of girth equals one year of growth.
hope you've got your answer
2006-10-18 01:04:35 · answer #1 · answered by ??? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is what I could think of:
1) get a measurement of the diameter of the tree and take that to a tree nursury.... someone who actually knows what they are talking about could possibly tell you a round about number.
2) see if you can get pictures of the home at earlier times that might show the tree in early stages. As long as the pictures have dates then this should give you a pretty good idea.
2006-10-18 01:02:13 · answer #2 · answered by Xbox2006 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's an alternative and faster way to estimate the age of a tree. Take a tape and measure the girth (distance around the trunk) approximately 150cms. from the ground.
If the tree is growing close to other trees, and it has a tall straight trunk, it will have been struggling to grow up to the sunlight, so every 12mms. of girth equals one year of growth.
If the tree is standing on its own with plenty of side branches growing from the trunk, then every 25 mm. of girth equals one year of growth.
2006-10-18 00:52:32 · answer #3 · answered by richard_beckham2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a long narrow hollow tube specially designed for this purpose. it is drilled into the tree, and then when the tool is pulled out, the rings can then be counted, with minimal harm to the tree
2006-10-18 00:52:00 · answer #4 · answered by Balaboo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tree coring - its like drilling a tiny hole into the tree, extracting the contents (like a long pencil!) and examining the tree rings from there. They can also tell things like if it was a really wet rainy year in each ring
2006-10-18 00:53:04 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No idea but there must be something! Do they not grow a new canopy of branches every year or something? I suppose it depends entirely on the tree for that. Try googling your question. Usually something comes up.
2006-10-18 00:53:03 · answer #6 · answered by wee stoater 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a instrument if u screw it at the base of tree a core of wood will come out in the tube now u count the annual ring of the core of wood
2006-10-18 00:54:39 · answer #7 · answered by apurba s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to it but dont bark up the wrong tree .
2006-10-18 00:54:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it's a male tree, ask it nicely...but never ask a female tree how old it is!
2006-10-18 00:50:08 · answer #9 · answered by Michael S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cut it at the trunk, then count the number of rings it has. i don't know how to do it without cutting it down!!!
2006-10-18 00:52:08 · answer #10 · answered by Klick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋