Determine the age of the plant - tips

Video: How to Determine the Age of a Tree

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Steps
Advice
Warning

We can estimate the age of a tree quite quickly and accurately by looking at certain characteristics. For example, depending on the type of tree you can measure the circumference of the trunk or count the rows of branches. The most accurate method is to count the circles on the trunk cross-section, but this only works when the tree has been cut, and you cannot cut down a healthy tree just to determine its age. Instead, try a different method or a combination of methods for an accurate estimate.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Estimate the age of the tree by measuring the circumference of the trunk

Measure the circumference of the trunk at breast height. The mean forest-chest height measured is 1.4 meters from the ground. You can wrap the tape measure around the trunk at this height and record your circumference.
- For sloping ground, measure to a height of 1.4 m from the ground on the high ground, mark again, then measure the same on the lower side. Average breast height is the midpoint of these two measurements.
- For stems with crowns lower than 1.4 m, measure the circumference just below the prong.
Find diameter and the trunk radius. To find the diameter, divide the circumference by the number pi (approximately 3.14), followed by the radius by dividing the diameter in half.
- For example, if the circumference is 390 cm, the diameter will be approximately 120 cm, and the radius will be about 62 cm.
Subtract 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm of the bark. For thick-barked trees like black oak, subtract the radius to 2.5 cm. Subtract 0.6 cm for thin bark like maple. If you are unsure whether the bark is thick or thin and only need to calculate, you can subtract the radius to 1.3 cm.
- If you include the bark, the measurement of the circumference of the trunk will be larger and the results will be skewed.
Use the same fallen trees to calculate the mean circle width over the trunk cross section. Find out if there are dead or cut down trees of the same species as the tree you are trying to age. If you find a tree with visible circles in the trunk, measure the radius and count the number of rings, then divide the radius by the number of rings to calculate the average ring width.
- Assuming a nearby stump has a radius of 64 cm and you count 125 rounds, the average ring width will be 0.51 cm.
- Growth rates will vary with plant species and environmental conditions. The living tree for which you want to age is probably growing at the same rate as the plants of the same species growing nearby.
- You will replace the measurement of the width of the circle in the trunk (or the average rate of growth if there are no stumps nearby) into the tree's age equation.
- Even with the width measurements you can use the average growth rate to calculate the age of the tree, and then compare the results of the two methods.
Look up the average plant growth rate, if necessary. If you can't find a stump or fallen tree nearby, you can go online to find the average growth rate of the tree you are trying to age. You should also enter the position in the search keyword for more accurate results.
- For example, oak, ash, chestnut, and sycamore figs increase by about 1.3 cm -1.9 cm per year. If you don't know what species the tree is age, you can substitute both the 1.3 cm and 1.9 cm numbers in the equation to calculate the tree's age range.
- For a more accurate calculation, you should include the position of the tree. Under open conditions, plant growth is usually faster, about 1.9 cm - 2.5 cm per year. Trees will grow more slowly in urban areas and dense forest.
- You need to understand how growth is calculated. Many sources of information calculate growth on the basis of perimeter increases each year. However, you can find growth based on the mean ring width of the radius.
Divide the radius by the mean of the ring. If you use a nearby stump to calculate a mean ring width, divide the radius of the tree you want to age by the mean ring width.
- Suppose, subtracting the bark, the tree you are trying to age has a radius of 60.96 cm. Using a stem of the same species that grows nearby, you work out an average ring width of 0.508 cm.
- Divide 60.96 by 0.508, we get the result that the estimated age of the tree is 120 years.
Divide the stalk circumference by the annual growth rate. If you find the annual growth rate based on the circumference, divide the circumference of the trunk by the rate of growth.
- Assuming a tree's circumference is 391.16 cm and its growth is between 1,905 cm to 2.54 cm per year, you would divide 391.16 by 1,905, then divide 39.16 by 2.54. The estimated age of the tree will be 154 to 205 years.
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Method 2 of 4: Count the number of branches

Count the number of rings to estimate the age of conifers. Branch rings are rows of branches growing from the trunk at the same height. The ring count method can be used to calculate the age of conifers or evergreen trees, but is not very useful for broadleaf species like oak or figs. Although not as accurate as the method of counting the circles in the trunk, this is also a way to calculate the age of the tree without having to cut or injure the tree.
- Coniferous species grow branches every year in regular waves. Deciduous trees or broadleaf trees have irregular rings of branches, making it difficult to accurately count.
- It is easiest to count the branches on a young coniferous plant. It will be difficult to see the tops of tall, mature conifers, and older plants also have more irregular stems growth.
Count rows of branches that grow at the same height. At the base of the tree, find a line of branches that grow at the same height, followed by a section of the tree with no branches, then another row of branches. Just count like that until the top of the tree.
- You can see a branch growing between 2 rows of branches close together. These are branches that do not grow as a rule, possibly due to damage to the tree or unusual weather conditions during the year, so don't count them.
Count the eyes or bottom of the stem. Examine the first branch row below for traces of previous shoots. Look for eyes and spots on the trunk where branches have grown. You will include these eyes and spots as branches.
- For example, let's say your tree has 8 distinct rows of branches. Below the first row you can see several eyes protruding from the trunk at the same height. There is also a row of 2-3 tabs under the tree's eye. You will count these eyes and tabs as branches so you will have 10 rows of branches in total.
Add 2-4 years of seedling growth. The tree will germinate and grow into a seedling for a few years before the branches start to grow. You need to add 2-4 more years to the count of the branches to include the first stage of the tree.
- If the number of branches is 10, the final estimated age of the tree will be 12-14 years.
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Method 3 of 4: Count the circles on the stump cross section

Examine the circles on the cross section of the stump. The number of rings on this stump will indicate the year the tree lived. You will see dark circles and brighter bands of color; A year of plant growth will consist of a dark and a light color ring.The dark circles are easier to distinguish, so you should count them to estimate the age of the tree.
- The trunk circles can also indicate the environmental conditions of a given year. Thinner rings indicate colder and drier years, thicker rings indicate better growing conditions.
Sand the stump to see the rings better. If it is difficult to see the trunk circles, rub the stump cut with 60-grit rough sandpaper, finally with a fine sandpaper, such as 400-grit. You can also see the rings more clearly if you spray a little water on the stump section.
- Some rings may be too close together, making it difficult to see clearly. If necessary, use a magnifying glass to get a better view.
Count the circles from the core to the shell. Find the core, that is, a small circle in between the concentric circles. Start counting from the first dark circle around the core. Continue counting until the bark is reached. The final ring is usually close to the case and hard to see, so be sure to include this ring.
- If you find it difficult to follow, you can use a number pencil or mark up every 10 rounds.
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Method 4 of 4: Count loops on a drill core sample

Sampling core drills of live plants using a growth drill. To accurately estimate the age of a living tree without killing the tree, a drill is used to take a core sample. The growth drill is a T-shaped device, consisting of a drill and a sample drawbar attached to the drill. The tail of the T is the handle for you to drill into the tree.
- The length of the drill should be at least 75% of the stem diameter. You can find growth drills online or at forest equipment stores.
Drill into the trunk at chest height. Measure to a height of 1.4 m above the trunk from the ground. Place the drill at this height in the center of the trunk.
- Sampling from chest height will provide an estimated result called age DBH. You will need to add 5-10 years to the DBH age to estimate the age of the tree.
- You will take samples at breast height because it is difficult to sample at the base of the tree. The roots, bushes, and ground make it difficult to turn the handle, and it can be difficult to drill when you have to bend over or lie on the ground.
Drill just enough through the midpoint of the trunk. Press firmly and turn the handle clockwise to drill into the trunk. Keep spinning until you guessed that the core of the plant has been about 5cm-7.5cm.
- Calculate the radius to estimate the depth to be drilled. Measure the circumference of the trunk, divide by pi (about 3.14) to find the diameter, then divide the diameter by 2 to find the radius.
Attach the sample collection tube to the drill, then turn the handle counter-clockwise. A sample drawbar is a long tube with a tooth at the end of the tube, attached to the drill bit, the part where you drilled into the tree. Attach the sample collection tube, then turn the handle clockwise to remove the tool and withdraw the core sample.
Take a sample and locate the core, ie the midpoint of the trunk. After removing the core sample from the sampling tube, you will see a series of concentric curves. This is part of the trunk circles. You should see a dot at the inside end of the tree (opposite the top of the bark) of the core pattern, which is the midpoint of the concentric circles.
- If you don't see the core, place the sample on a large piece of paper and stretch the curves with a pen to circles on the paper. Based on the circles just drawn, you can guess the position of the midpoint and estimate how many rounds are lost.
Count loops on the core sample. Once you have found the core of the inner end of the template, count the dark curves up to the top of the bark of the sample. Use a magnifying glass if the rings are too close together to make it difficult to see.
- If you find it difficult to count the curves, you can sand the sample for a clearer view. Start with a 60-grit sandpaper and finish with a fine sandpaper, such as 400-grit.
- Remember that the circle count will indicate the DBH age of the tree. You need to add 5-10 years to estimate the final age of the tree.
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Advice

Tropical plants don't make sharp circles, so you'll need to use other methods to calculate the age of plants in areas where there is no cold season.
Although more accurate than the other methods, the stem ring count method is not perfect either. Weather conditions, soil, damage, and other factors can cause the tree to form multiple rings or no rings in a year.
Core sampling will damage the plant, but the tree will recover on its own. Fungicidal sealing compounds are available that are specially formulated to heal plant wounds. However, these products carry the risk of making plants susceptible to infection, so they are not recommended.