Clearing a Path

[Jaybr]

I'm not going to cut down the tree to count the rings, so all I can do is use the info I find to come up with an ESTIMATE. I'll take a measurement and use the calculator I found for a start. Based on what I've read, I can also surmise that the oaks around these big ones are over 40 years old. From reading, oaks reach adult stage around 40 years and that is when they start producing acorns. I won't know for sure which trees are producing until fall, but I know when we bought the place in October there where plenty of acorns in those woods.

I also have a large oak that uprooted on the property, it's a fraction of the size of this one but definitely a mature tree. When I get that one cut up, I'll count the rings at the base. Once I have the rings counted on it, and can compare that to the age calculator results and determine how close the calculator is for trees on my property. Then I can post a pic of that tree (with exact age) in front of the big tree for reference.

I hear loud and clear that I can't get the exact age without counting rings, but I'm not trying to get the exact age I'm just trying to come up with an estimated age.

 

[BackRoad]

Not an Oak, but a Maple. It's up in the woods, about 100' off the North East corner of my property.

Y'all have me wanting to go measure it's "girth" to get an estimate of age...

Talking about the tree here, I already have a pretty good idea how old my wife is without measuring! (If she ever finds out about this post, I'll be fed to the pigs!)

 

[Pendotron]

On this new to us property there is an old house/shack in the woods with an overgrown road leading to it. There was a fallen tree across it when we bought the place, and then an ice storm a couple weeks ago took down a few more across the old road. I started working on clearing it last weekend and got around to finishing it this afternoon. Main reason I'm even posting this is there are a couple really big oak trees by the old shack that I find impressive. No idea how old they are but I'd have to guess at least a couple hundred years.

View attachment 2947010

 

[Jaybr]

Finally got a chance to measure the tree today, circumference is 171”- Tree age calculator puts it at 217 years old, not far off my original estimate.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Just talking about oak trees in my part of the country in East Texas. They tend to get pretty big, then they fall over in a big thunderstorm, or rot away from the inside, and break apart. I'm sure there are hundred-year-old oak trees here, but I also think they are very rare. Of all the tree species that I have, oaks are the most temperamental, and easiest to kill while trying to save them.

That is my experience on the east coast as well.

Also, if you look at pictures from 100 years ago of most places where people were living, trees were very rare. They look pretty desolate by today's standards. A lot of people were still heating with wood and they cut down everything.

 

[MossRoad]

Finally got a chance to measure the tree today, circumference is 171”- Tree age calculator puts it at 217 years old, not far off my original estimate.

No doubt about it, that's a fat tree. Was that taken at 4.5' (standard breast height) above ground level? Is so, that's about 54.5" in diameter.

 

[MossRoad]

...From reading, oaks reach adult stage around 40 years and that is when they start producing acorns. ....

On the acorn note, our oaks that we planted started producing acorns around 18-20 years old. The turkeys and deer scarf them up pretty quickly.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

When this white oak came down I slabbed it and made a coffee table. 102 rings. Note that some are maybe 1/8" apart, some are 3/4" apart.
View attachment 3009344

I would guess this tree's stump was cut down many years ago and then shoots started forming up from the stump. As time progressed they appear to have grown together to form "one" tree". To me you could only determine the tree's age by counting the rings from the center of one of the "eyes". But you can also see about how old it was when they conjoined and count the history afterwards.

 

[Jaybr]

No doubt about it, that's a fat tree. Was that taken at 4.5' (standard breast height) above ground level? Is so, that's about 54.5" in diameter.

Yes, chest height and I’m 6’2

 

[RayIN]

"White oak" can refer to seven different species, and "red oak" five.

I have a red oak beside my house that's 6' in diameter at ground level. Measuring as loggers do, 5' high, it's 4' in diameter and (was) 85' tall.
It's leaning towards my house so I had the crown cut away to reduce wind resistance last year. Until it begins to show signs of decay I'll let it stay.