Many trees in a local city-managed forest area (Midwest, USA) have circumferential cuts like this. What is the purpose? Thanks!
by happywaffle12
Many trees in a local city-managed forest area (Midwest, USA) have circumferential cuts like this. What is the purpose? Thanks!
by happywaffle12
8 Comments
To kill the tree. Potentially to begin the seasoning process to use it for lumber or firewood.
Idk if it’s on purpose or not but it’s girdling the tree, killing it
It can be done for a wide variety of reasons, if you reach out to the city that manages it I’m sure you could get an answer
Former urban forester here. Maybe the owner wanted to retain as a habitat snag.
They’re probably worried about the trees being so close to the trail and being so old. Cities don’t like tree based lawsuits
Could be a trap tree too. Girdling causes stress, leads to chemical signal that insects pick up. They head to that tree and can be caught to monitor presence of an insect.
Oak wilt. When a tree dies from it this is how you prevent it from transmitting to other trees through the roots. They most likely treated the cuts with herbicide. Second tree looks like a white oak which is most likely a misconception on their part.
Looks like an oak. Girdle and herbicide is used to control oak wilt in the Midwest