A large oak tree produces many leaves, they all want to be well supplied with water and nutrients. A large trunk with lots of cables is just right. What does the tribe have to be like so that it can also wear the mighty crown?
How is the trunk of an oak tree structured?
An oak trunk becomes stronger over the years and can reach a circumference of 3 m or up to 8 m when free-standing. The bark changes over time, from thin and smooth to thick and heavily cracked.
Strength and girth come with the years
When an oak tree is planted in the garden, its trunk is still very thin. The young tree needs a stake as support (€14.00 on Amazon) so that strong winds do not bend its trunk. However, over the years, an oak tree trunk cannot be knocked down by anything or anyone.
- the trunk gets stronger every year
- can reach a circumference of about 3 m
- freestanding even up to 8 m
Different trunk length
Oaks become large trees, some species reaching a height of up to 30 m. The higher the tree becomes, the higher the trunk is. However, there are species in which the trunk is relatively short because the crown is formed low.
Sometimes straight, sometimes crooked
More than 600 species of oak can be found in the northern hemisphere of the world. It goes without saying that not all oak species have the same trunk. For example, while in the swamp oak it rises straight into the sky, in the downy oak it often has a crooked growth.
The most common species here, English oak and sessile oak, have a similar trunk.
The outer garment, the bark
The trunk is covered by a protective bark, which is initially thin and smooth. This later develops into a thick and heavily cracked bark. The color also changes over the years. While the bark of a young oak tree is usually light in color, it darkens and turns brown over the years.
Valuable oak wood
The oak can be found in gardens and parks and of course in the forest. While the first two cases are about its appearance and its shade-providing crown, the oak in the forest is worth money to its owner. The trunk of the oak tree contains wood, which is a sought-after commodity on the economic market. It is strong and durable, can be used for furniture and even outdoors.
