our magnolia tree

Question

We have a magnolia tree that was here when we bought the house 30 years ago. It has a 114′ drip line. How old would this tree be?

Thank you,
George

Answer 1

There is only one way to tell how old a magnolia tree is, and that is by counting the tree’s rings. Each year the tree puts on a new layer of growth, creating a thin dark ring between the new growth and last year’s growth. By counting these rings you can determine how many growing seasons the tree has seen–in other words, how old the tree is. The trick is to find a way to count the rings without cutting the tree down to reveal them. Fortunately there is a way to accomplish this. It is a device called an increment borer.

Check with a certified Arborist for this device.