I finally understood the point of a bark gauge after talking to a forester in Asheville

I was doing a hazard check on some old oaks near the Biltmore Estate and ran into this forester named Carl. He saw me eyeballing a tree and just said, 'You're guessing. Get a bark gauge on that pin oak, the bark's thicker than you think.' I bought a simple one that afternoon and it changed how I judge decay from the outside. Anyone else have a tool they started using late that made a big difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.wyatt20d ago

That "clean bill of health" thing hits hard. My buddy's a landscaper and he was sure this big willow was solid. Client wanted a swing. He finally borrowed a mallet and did a sound test, just tapping around the trunk. Sounded fine until one spot gave a totally dead thump. Cut into it and the core was just wet, crumbly mush. He said it looked like a chocolate shell with nothing inside. Makes you realize how much we miss just by looking.

maryt6220d ago

My arborist buddy kept going on about resistograph drills for years before I caved. The thing reads wood density like a medical scan, shows you exactly where the rot is hiding. I always thought it was overkill for residential work until I found a perfectly healthy looking maple that was basically hollow. Makes you question every tree you've ever given a clean bill of health.

patriciareed19d ago

Wow, that's a scary story from both of you. I read an article about how trees can compartmentalize decay, so they look totally fine while hiding a major problem inside. It's like they're putting on a brave face. @maryt62, your arborist buddy was right to push for the drill. After hearing about your hollow maple, I'm side-eyeing the big oak in my own yard. Makes you wonder what's really going on under the bark.