The Trunk
 Douglas L. Airhart & Guy Zimmerman III

Web Site Guide: [Home]

Purpose

Right Tree / Right Place

Selecting Trees

Transplanting Trees

Mulching & Staking

Summary Diagram 

Pruning Trees

Topping Hurts!

Protecting Trees

Tree Root Myths

Pine Bark Beetles

Live Christmas Trees

Glossary

List of Figures

List of Video Vignettes

Related Links

Bibliography

 

[ Up ] [ The Root System ] [ The Trunk ] [ The Branches ]

    Selecting Trees- The Trunk:

After verifying a strong and healthy root system, make your second concern the trunk of the tree, starting from the trunk flare. Be sure you can see the trunk flare out and into the mix to become roots.

The trunk should be widest at the base and then taper gradually to the top, maintaining a single leader. A good taper represents previous healthy growing conditions, with lower branches allowed to remain for a while to provide food for stem thickening.

Example of grafted trunks and branch symmetry:  Video Vignette (See it live!)

As the tree matures, most nursery producers will remove the lowest branches to clear the trunk. Those wounds should be healed or showing good callus rings in the healing process. There should be no other visible damage to the trunk, such as scars or insect damage or borer holes. Any signs of these types of damage would be cause to not select that tree. 

(Figure 3-6) Trunk Flare and Taper.

The diagram at right shows a well developed trunk flare and good taper, one central leader at the top, and temporary branches to help strengthen the trunk.

 

 From Tree City USA Bulletin No. 1, 1997, Used with permission of The National Arbor Day Foundation.

Selecting Japanese Maples (different factors):  Video Vignette (See it live!)

In most cases, young landscape trees up to twelve feet tall will have a single, central leader (main stem). A central leader is a primary consideration for evergreen trees and young deciduous trees. Larger shade trees, perhaps with three-inch to four-inch caliper trunks, may have developed a spreading canopy without a prominent central leader.

(Figure 3-7)

Example of Central Leader. 

Trunk taper is developing to the tip, temporary branches remain, and lateral branches are well spaced.
 		 ...

Purpose    Right Tree / Right Place    Selecting Trees    Transplanting Trees    Mulching & Staking    Summary Diagram     Pruning Trees    Topping Hurts!      Protecting Trees     Tree Root Myths     Pine Bark Beetles     Live Christmas Trees     Glossary     List of Figures    List of Video Vignettes    Related Links     Bibliography

 

TLCforTrees.info is maintained by: Douglas Airhart, Ph.D. Certified Arborist & Jeff Plant, Ph.D, Last Updated on: 07/11/03