ANATOMY OF A REDWOOD & OAK TREE (Exogenous Trees)

Redwood & Oak trees grow rings that hold valuable data

As a Redwood and Oak tree (or any exogenous tree) grows, it produces rings. Any changes in growth rate, along with temperature variation throughout the yearly cycle, will make the tree's growth rings more visible.

The science of Dendrochronology uses "data" from the tree through determining the Redwood or Oak tree’s age by counting and examining its rings. The data is then used to date cores or even wood taken from trees in the past.

Here Is The Anatomy of A Redwood & Oak Tree: (and all exogenous trees)

1. Pith: The inner most part of the tree. Varies in shape and size. The pith is the oldest part of exogenous tree and when the plant becomes old, the pith dies and becomes and dark and fibrous.

2. Heart Wood: The portion surrounding pith. Strong and dark in color. Heart wood is useful for several engineering purpose. The dead part of wood and consists of various annular rings.

 

2 layers of bark protect the Cambium layer

3. Sap Wood: Next to heart wood is sap wood. Sap wood is instrumental in the growth of trees through permitting sap to move upward. Annual rings in sap wood are less sharply divided and light in color. Sap wood may also be referred to as “alburnum”.

4. Cambium Layer: Thin layer of fresh sap between the sap wood and the inner bark. The Cambium layer has sap which is not still converted into sap wood. If the bark is removed and Cambium layer exposed to atmosphere, the cells cease to be active and the tree dies.

5. Inner Bark: An inner skin of tree defending the cambium layer. It provides protection for the delicate and very important cambium layer.

6. Outer Bark: The outer skin of the tree made up of wood fibers. Sometimes it contains cracks and gaps.

7. Vascular (Medullary) Rays: Thin radial fibers extending from pith to cambium layer. They work together to hold the annular rings. In some of trees they are broken and some others are simply not prominent.

We love trees! We hope this blog article has been interesting and/or useful for you. Signature Tree Service strives hard to provide the best professional tree service in Northern California. Curtis Fosnaugh, CEO, is a reputable Certified Arborist and Certified Tree Risk Assessor. Signature Tree Service has proudly served Northern California for over 10 years!

Call us if your trees need work! We are here to help, 24/7. 

Signature Tree Service

707-449-8653  

Curtis, Oak collar exam

Shopping Local: How Overthinking Can Remove Choice

On A Personal Note...

Signature Tree Service has always prided itself on being a local business. Owner, Curtis Fosnaugh, loves his home turf in the countryside of Northern California. Having grown up here, Curtis has a natural affinity for agriculture and horticulture. From there, came his love of trees.

We've developed over the years due to demand for quality by consumers that Curtis is driven to satisfy. Signature Tree was fortunate that customer satisfaction, referrals and repeat business saw us through The Great Recession. And we’ve added satellite offices and crews to cover areas where we were getting calls but could not service locally before.

Recently, we were not chosen for a job in Sonoma because we are a Vacaville based company, just 35 miles from Sonoma! And, although our marketing agency is based in Sonoma County and we have many local ties to the area (referral networks, friends/followers, Home & Garden Shows, satellite office), our neighbors in this particular scenario felt Signature Tree was too far to be local.

Northern California is our home and we wouldn’t trade it for the world! So let’s talk local…

Local vs. Regional vs. National

You would think that “local” in California is a larger footprint than in, say, tiny Rhode Island, but due to the awareness of buying local among highly conscious Northern Californians, it remains quite small in our area. When consumers here want “local”, they are talking within about 20 miles or less. This is micro-local. Anytime you can shop on a micro-local way, it’s the most effective place to start when shopping local.

The challenge is that micro-local can remove choice. Control over the quality of service/product is reduced when variety and competition are slim. The product or service within 20 miles may not be as high of quality as a “regionally-local” item from the next county over. 

Local job: Root collar exam, Napa. April, 2014

This is why regionally local is a completely acceptable form of shopping local. Regionally-local is the next best thing to micro-local. Some of the revenue and tax dollars will remain in your county, and all state taxes are recycled. Also, the company providing the product/service is likely hiring individuals from your county so local economic development (LED) is happening and strengthening local economy (i.e., our marketing agency being based in Sonoma County).

National companies are the antithesis of “local”. They often talk the talk about having local franchise owners and employees but when it comes down to it, most of the revenue from national companies goes back to their home state. 

One of the ways national companies grab business from smaller local/regional mom & pops is through a strong online presence. National companies have a larger marketing budget, allowing them a strong reach to consumers. And it works! Often, consumers will see 72 reviews and pick up the phone without considering whether the company is local, regional or national.

NorCal Supporting NorCal

Signature Tree Service always appreciates doing business locally. No matter where the job, you will NOT find Curtis frequenting franchise restaurants—ONLY locally owned and operated.

We are proud to be Northern California’s local and regionally-local Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor. We proudly open the doors to quality and local competition that is healthy for our communities, economies, and of course, trees! 

If you have a question or need our help, feel free to call Signature Tree Service at 707-449-8653.