Rant: A forestry report said my city's oldest oak is only 60 years old

I was reading the urban canopy survey from 2022 and it listed the big white oak in Miller Park as planted in 1964. That tree is massive, over 4 feet in diameter. I always figured it was a couple hundred years old. It makes me wonder if we're all just guessing on tree ages on the job. How do you guys actually verify age for big specimens?

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victor_robinson7mo ago

My uncle swore the maple in his yard was older than the house until a storm took it down and we counted the rings. It was planted the year he got married. Turns out he just remembered everything from that time being bigger and more important. Maybe your park got some really good dirt.

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haydenmurray7mo ago

That maple story from @victor_robinson is kind of sad, actually.

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avery_jackson7mo ago

Did he ever admit he was wrong about the tree?

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allen.kai6mo ago

My buddy's dad did that with a fence post.

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