Estimate tree age

[WILSON5153]

I have a small woodlot, how can I estimate the age of trees oak,maple,cherry
and how fast and much they'll grow per year. Thanks for your help. Wayne

 

[treeclimber165]

Basically you are limited to lookin' and guessin'. Sometimes experts will core drill a tree to count the rings, but that involves damaging the tree and giving future insects a place to get in. Most good arborists can give an educated guess based on vigor, size and species. If it is worth spending money to find out, try
http://www.asca-consultants.org/
and find some consulting arborists in your area.

 

[Treeman14]

The most accurate method would be to take increment borings of random samples and count/measure the annual growth rings. This will give you the age and growth rate. Take the average and you'll know what to expect in future years.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Some areas have devoped averages of growth for specific speicies and they can make an estimate on that.

If your intent is for timber harvest, then it is size and qualituy of the trunk that is of most importance for value estimations. For this you would want a forrester to cruise the lot.