Crooked tree question

Re: Crooked tree question

Larry Barrett

I think trees try to find the sun. Sometimes, in the middle of a forest, that means they will straighten up because the sun may only be seen when it is overhead. But for a tree growing near the edge of the forest, that may mean growing almost horizontally (think cherry trees, for instance).

Towards or away?

Thomas Dunlap

You're seeing 'reaction wood'. Hardwood and softwoods react in opposite ways. I'll leave it to you to research the topic, it's much too complicated for me to type out.

we see trees bent to where there is more light. That makes it convenient to say that they grow 'towards' light. But, from a really nerdy and botanical sense they're really growing 'away' from shade. It has to do with how much and where trees produce growth and agreeing on what 'growth' means.

In both cases the description of what I'm talking about is very nerdy and only makes sense for arborists and other treenerds.

Don't even get me going on the more accurate term of 'sealing' in reference to how trees react to wounds. Using the word 'healing' isn't accurate. Healing connotes the generation of new tissues to replace the damaged tissues. It's a biological term. Sealing is a botanical term connoting how trees react to wounds by growing new tissues to isolate wounds as well as generate chemical reactions to decay. If you want to learn more research "CODIT" from the work of Dr. Alex Shigo.

Nerd out...coffee is ready!

Re: Towards or away?

Larry Barrett

Interesting read about CODIT. I guess everyone has seen examples of Wall 4, but the other three are not obvious unless you know what you are looking at.

I know you have mentioned Dr. Alex Shigo before. Do you have any more good links like CODIT?

Dr. Shigo

Thomas Dunlap

Dr. Shigo is the Father of Modern Arborculture...that in itself is an inside Shigoism...lol! He, like George Carlin, were very much concerned with language. Heal/seal is only one example. I remember hearing a rather light talk and a follow up article where he was making a point to use 'arborculture' instead of 'arboriculture'. Most people never use the 'i' anyway...his example...parliament. I dropped the 'i' a long time ago and a few of my nerdy arbo buddies catch the reference and the in-joke.

I don't have any links for his work. My bookshelves are full and most of his books are there. My suggestion is to take a breath and go down the Google rabbit hole and follow your whims. If you decide you want ot buy any of his books get hold of me first. I'm purging. There have been threads here about purging tools, magazines and books. None of them are easy. I'd really like to find good homes for all of my surplus goodies.

Reaction wood

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Reaction wood is often very unstable; do your reading, and then decide what to do about your board. But I'd give it some time to stabilize - or destabilize - before you commit it to a piece of furniture.

Hat's off to arborists

John K Jordan

Or is it arbiorists, arboroicultur... ack, educated and knowledgeable tree professionals and scientists.

I've very much enjoyed the time I've spent down that rabbit hole since you enlightened us. Quite interesting, especially the magic of the cambium. I'd like to see a detailed animated simulation of the creation of one ring over a season. I don't understand when woodworkers and woodturners don't seem interested in the structure of wood and how it got that way. (Maybe they'd be just as happy working with plastic.)

I cringe at some of the trimming, er, butchering I see from some tree "services" and utilities. (guys with chainsaws and used bucket trucks) No training, no knowledge.

My son was driving on our lane when lightening struck a 120' tulip poplar tree maybe 30' from the car. It's been fascinating to watch the tree seal/heal over the years. The forks/branches on the top are rotting away, the new growth is 4-5" thick now 3/4ths the way around the trunk most of the way up, and the wood inside looks like it will totally decay eventually. We had a smaller black cherry tree like that and from the amazing structures I pulled out of the middle the opening apparently allowed many generations of carpenter bees to flourish.

JKJ

Oops,  "Hats" off to arborists

Re: Oops,  "Hats" off to arborists

Thomas Dunlap

Thx!

Lightning hits and lightens the tree...get it? Hehehe

There are proper ways to do directional pruning so that the tree's growth is adjusted and the wounds are smaller. Properly done the tree may look awful but there is less long term damage.

Shigo took many micro pics of how trees put on annual growth as well as tissues to isolate damage. I don't know where they might be found online but they have to be there. He'd take samples daily...sometimes many times a day to catch the cells dividing and changing functions. Fascinating for tree nerds.

Reaction wood is amazing. Seeing how trees put on tension and compression fibers to keep their shape. Sometimes while pruning or removing I'd dissect vertically to see what was going on inside. Other times I'd cut out a piece and have my groundies put it in my van. When I got home I'd use the bandsaw to slice it open.

Tom Dunlap

John K Jordan

>>>If you decide you want ot buy any of his books get hold of me first. I'm purging. There have been threads here about purging tools, magazines and books. None of them are easy. I'd really like to find good homes for all of my surplus goodies.

Hey, is your email address still the one that starts with "canopy"? I sent an email about the books to the address I had. If incorrect, please send me an email. Thanks. JKJ

Found it!

Thomas Dunlap

Hi

My spam filter caught you...I didn't check it often enough I guess...sorry