The Structure of Wood

Wood is crazy cool. All of it’s strength and flexibility comes from the structure and arrangement of the cells that make up wood; this page will explain the basics of how the microscopic structures of wood translate into the overall properties of wood. Basically, it’ll be about the engineering of wood.

Wood 101

Straws

Phloem and xylem

These Armillaria mushrooms are a clear sign that the roots of this oak tree have begun to rot

Composition - lignin and cellulose

Although the canopy of this tree looked healthy, extensive fungal decay caused it to fail.

Functions of wood

Nutrient flow

Mechanical support

Nutrient storage

The fuzzy coating on this beech tree is an insect infestation. These scale insects cause many small wounds.
The fungi that infects beech trees after scale infestation causes beech bark disease. This will typically kill the tree.

Specialized structures

Branch bark ridge

Roots

Heartwood/fatwood

Apple scab is a very common problem. The dark spots on the leaves and the hard scabs on the fruit are caused by the same fungus. 
Powdery mildew on a maple tree. Although it looks bad, it isn't a serious problem for the tree. Mildew infections are very dependent on humidity levels so the problem may only persist for a single season.

Feel free to email me with any questions and/or pictures of decay or unusual growths you see on your trees

Leaf spot and rust likely won’t be totally eliminated without chemical treatments, but here are a few things that can help dramatically:

  • remove dead or diseased branches that can be a source of infecting spores

  • remove fallen leaves that can reinfect the tree

  • thin the branches to allow more light and air flow

  • avoid spray watering systems that get the leaves or trunk wet

You can probably do some of these things yourself, but for larger trees or heavy infections give Thirty Pines a call!