Knowing at what stage of growth a tree is working at is imperative to properly aare for and work with the tree. The stage of growth in terms of time depends immensely on the species of tree- a maple may be mature at twenty years while a twenty year old oak is still a juvenile. Therefore, the stage of growth must be evaluated by the actions of the tree and not the chronological age.

Formative Stage

Fast root and stem growth

Low volume of deadwood and dysfunctional tissue

High vitality- lots of growth and good overall health

Close to 100% living tissue

Mature Stage

Tree reaches full size

Food produced by leaves remains stable

Growth slows and top growth spreads outward more than upward

Tips grow more laterally than vertically

Onset of natural loss of limbs

Increase in dysfunctional tissues

Decaying wood present caused by fungal growth or under sunken spots

Fifty percent or less dynamic mass

Veteran Stage

Crown dieback

Branch loss

Damage and decay to stems and roots

Slow or no growth

Low energy due to leaf area and health decline

Terminal decline leading to eventual death

For trees with strong defense systems the veteran age may be the longest stage while more fast growth trees can go from veteran to dead in a matter of just a few years. The best way to assure the longest lifespan for any tree is to keep it well watered, fertilized and pest free and of course to have originally planted it in an environment where it was meant to exist.

The shortest lifespan for a tree comes when you do the opposite of all of these things. A shortened lifespan is also frequently exacerbated by poor care resulting from tree service providers who don't understand how to evaluate a tree for care and make unhealthy decisions regarding limbing or crowning the tree.