Can I possibly figure out tree age without cutting it?

The simplest way to figure out a tree’s age is to chop it down and count the rings inside. But how can you figure out the tree age without cutting? One way is to have tree care professional to get a core boring of the tree and count the rings. However, this technique could harm the tree.

Another way, created by arborists, only necessitate a few simple calculations and measurements to get a reliable estimate of a tree's age.

Assess a Tree's Age
Step 1:  Put a tape measure around the tree at a point that is 4 ½ feet over the ground. This is how you measure the circumference of a tree. Jot down the measurement.

Step 2:  Use the circumference to get the tree’s diameter. The formula for getting the diameter is circumference divided by 3.14 (pi) =diameter.

Step 3:  Find the age of a tree by multiplying the growth factor by the diameter. Here are some growth factor rates for favorite trees:

• 5.0: Black Cherry, White Oak, Sugar Maple, White Birch
• 3.5: River Birch
• 4.5: Black Walnut, Red Maple
• 2.0: Aspen, Cottonwood
• 4.0: American Elm, Green Ash, Red Oak

Assessing a Tree's Age by Species
Start by deciding the tree species and doing a diameter calculation with a tape measure at 4.5 feet above stump level or diameter breast height. If you are using circumference, you’ll want to use this calculation to find the tree diameter: Circumference divided by 3.14=diameter.

Then get the age of a tree by multiplying the growth factor by the tree’s diameter as determined by species. Here is the formula:  Diameter times Growth Factor times diameter = estimated tree age. Don’t forget that the growth factors offered are more precise when taken from trees grown in the woods.

The Age of Landscape and Street Trees
Since trees in a park or landscape or park are usually protected and pampered, it is more of an art to getting the age of these trees without a considerable margin of error. There are arborists with plenty of tree core and stump evaluation experience who can age a tree with a high sense of accuracy.

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