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I cut some burls for carving off a long dead oak tree today and was wondering if it was possible to find out how old it was without cutting a section to count rings?

I've heard of using the diameter as a rough guide to the age of a tree but does any one know how to figure it out?

the tree i cut the wood from was about five and a half feet thick and must have been dead a long time as its well rotten at the base and has saplings rooted in the stump!

any ideas any one?

cheers
hyperion

i seem to recall reading some where that a woodland tree grows 1/2 an inch a year and a solatary tree grows 1 inch per a year so this should give and approx of its age i also think the girth needs to be measured at around 4 foot above the ground
hope this helps

There are too many variables: species of tree, general climate of the area, specific climate of the location, soil condition, etc, etc. You need to have an idea of the growth rate of that particular species in your area, in a similar soil type and location. Any time you cut a tree, make it a habit to count the rings. Then you will have that data when you need it.

In my area, a douglas fir grows about a inch (diameter) every three years for the first 15 years or so, then about an inch every eight years for the next 50 years. An alder in the same area grows about twice as fast initially, but slows down more as it ages.

Get to know your own ecosystem, then you'll be able to estimate growth rates.