If you want to learn the age of a Maple tree, all you have to do is look a little closer. By assessing the physical characteristics and conditions of a Maple tree, such as size, bark, and water usage, you can accurately gauge which stage of life it’s in: youth, adolescent, adult, or senior! Continue reading to learn how to measure the age of a Maple tree looking for these clues and more.
Getting Started
You will need a few tools and materials to accurately measure the age of a Maple tree. This may include measuring tape, rope, gloves, and perhaps a ladder. Once you have everything you need to get started, you can move onto the investigative portion of the process! Here are some methods to try:
Measure the canopy’s height and width. Then compare your measurements to those of a fully-grown Maple tree. This will tell you if it’s older than 10 years or younger since many Maple trees grow an average of 10 feet in the first 10 years, and then top out at 15 feet.
Take a closer look at the bark. Most Maples experience changes to their bark, both in color and texture, as they grow older. For instance, the Sugar Maple is known for its straight tree trunk, whose bark starts out smooth when young, and becomes looser and disheveled as it grows older. Research the type of Maple tree you are investigating and look up bark changes and maturity.Use math to calculate the age of your Maple tree. Measure up the tree trunk 54 inches, and then tie a rope, string, or measuring tape at that exact point. This string will give you the circumference you need to compete the equation. Divide the circumference by pie (3.14) to get the diameter. To determine the age, first determine which type of Maple tree it is: silver, red, Norway, black, or sugar. Multiple the diameter by the following numbers depending on the type of Maple:
Silver = 3
Red = 4.5
Black = 5
Sugar = 5.5
Norway = 4.5
Example: If the circumference is 2.4 inches, the Maple Tree is around 3 to 4 years old.