How Trees Grow

[Dave Fritz]

I've always believed trees grew out, not up. In other words a pail hung on a tree would not grow up the tree, rather the tree would grow around the pail. Then I saw several pictures of bicycles in trees. You can't tell how far off the ground the bike is but obviously the tree's grown both up and out?

Is there a ratio for tree growth like 80% up and 20% out?

Dave F.

 

[ray hampton]

nice pictures, the answer to your question are that trees are different, one tree in Florida are reported to cover a number of acres because of its roots spread and the roots may account for a number trees but another species of tree in the western desert are about 10 feet tall but are older than Columbus

 

[MichaelMouse]

Structure of a tree has the only living portion immediately under the bark, so adding cells below a bike hung on a limb or a singletree waiting to be released at the sawmill - don't ask - would seem impossible. They do increase in girth, but added height seems to be limited to growth of the buds at limb ends.

They will engulf some amazing things, apparently. http://hungrytrees.com/

 

[MichaelMouse]

I just came in from the mailbox. Did you see the cover to the January Lee Valley catalog? Wondering what prompted the shade-tree mechanic to put (throw?) the wrench into the crotch of the tree.

After living through two sons and a LOT of repurchases at Sears, I know that things do sometimes walk away from the job, or so they claimed.

 

[dbonertz]

I used to believe this also. That trees grow out and not up from the bottom. But after witnessing fence lines 8 to 10 feet off the ground and other such occurrences it is hard to believe it is a limb. Especially when you put a little thought into how that limb grew so high. I have witnessed even in my own limited life time of 51 years a tree with a scar on the main trunk end up five feet off the ground when it started at two feet. Must be a miracle or science needs to reevaluated.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Maybe it's the wood-stretcher those who measured only once and cursed twice are seeking?

Or, do you figure the developing root system gave it a "push" out of the earth, and the rain washed the loosened soil away?

 

[dbonertz]

I have sent a few newbies to the lumber yard to borrow a board stretcher. They always came back and told me that the lumber yard had already lent it out. At least it got them out of my way for awhile.

It seems to me that the roots push the main trunk out after the seed broke loose. So yes the rain probably did clean it. You still haven't answered why something ends up, on a tree that I planted twenty years ago, a couple of feet higher than earlier. I don't really believe the trunk moves up 10 feet. But I do believe there is a slight movement up in the trunk over years. Either that or the earth is sinking but a couple of feet - I guess it is possible but those roots.

 

[Bill Boehme]

About fifteen years ago, I sawed two large limbs off a live oak tree in our front yard. The two limbs were about shoulder high and made it hard to mow the grass without a lot of stooping. The scars on the trunk are still there, but, if anything, they are a few inches lower or I have gotten taller. The tree is now rather substantial in size and live oak is very heavy. Could it have sunk slightly?
...
....
....
Or, could it be the occasional bit of dirt that we use to cover the root "knees" that poke up.

We also have a sidewalk that is "growing". One part of the sidewalk about fifteen feet from the tree is higher than the rest of the sidewalk.. I'm just glad that the foundation of our house isn't "growing". 😀

 

[ray hampton]

About fifteen years ago, I sawed two large limbs off a live oak tree in our front yard. The two limbs were about shoulder high and made it hard to mow the grass without a lot of stooping. The scars on the trunk are still there, but, if anything, they are a few inches lower or I have gotten taller. The tree is now rather substantial in size and live oak is very heavy. Could it have sunk slightly?
...
....
....
Or, could it be the occasional bit of dirt that we use to cover the root "knees" that poke up.

We also have a sidewalk that is "growing". One part of the sidewalk about fifteen feet from the tree is higher than the rest of the tree. I'm just glad that the foundation of our house isn't "growing". 😀

if trees which weigh are measure in tons sink into the earth , then why don't the cypress tree sink down into the mud that support them

 

[Bill Boehme]

if trees which weigh are measure in tons sink into the earth , then why don't the cypress tree sink down into the mud that support them

uh ... my comment was intended as a joke.

It is pretty obvious that a tree with its root system is not the same thing as sticking a post in the ground.

But then on the other hand, cypress trees are usually found in the water and at one time they had to be above water to sprout from a seed. 😀

 

[dbonertz]

So I had to measure since it has been awhile since I even paid attention to this until this thread. It has moved up about 13 inches (not 2 feet to 5 feet as stated earlier - that was a guess). Now we have expansive soils so combining that uplift on the tree and the earth settling may be the cause of this difference. Not sure because trees do grow from the top but how does this get explained. Especially since the roots are not showing. Kinda weird.

 

[ray hampton]

uh ... my comment was intended as a joke.

It is pretty obvious that a tree with its root system is not the same thing as sticking a post in the ground.

But then on the other hand, cypress trees are usually found in the water and at one time they had to be above water to sprout from a seed. 😀

are cypress trees found in the wild forest in Texas ?
I doubt if seeds will sprout while in the water but will not be surprise to find out that they will

 

[Bill Boehme]

Yes, cypress trees are found in great abundance in the eastern part of Texas. Caddo Lake is a prime example.

Cypress seeds can't germinate under water. But, they also do not do well on dry ground. They need a very wet nearly saturated soil to germinate. Since the trees grow where the ground is frequently under water, the seedlings grow very rapidly so that at least part of the crown will be above water when the next flood/rainy season comes.

Here is a map showing the range of the cypress tree.

Cypress trees usually are found at lower elevations (below 150' MSL), but there are native stands in Texas at around 1500' MSL.

 

[hockenbery]

Bill,
There are two species common in Florida
Pond cypress and bald cypress
The old growth trees were over a 1,000 years old some more than double that.
The big trees are all stumps except those that were hollow and deemed not worth felling.

One hollow tree left by the loggers was the centerpiece of "big tree park" it was burned down last year.
Burned by arson. The hollow acted like chimney.
3,500 years to grow, survived loosing 60-70 of its top in a 60's hurricane, burned in one night!

 

[gary rock]

Al

Did they ever find out who torched the tree?:mad:

Gary

 

[hockenbery]

Gary,
I read an article that they arrested a woman who took photos showing she started the fire while high on something.