Landscape Practices Lab
Tree Measurement and Evaluation
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to familiarize the student with various measuring techniques that are useful in the landscape/nursery industry and useful in evaluation of trees. Much of the information gained in this lab will be used in your Tree Evaluation Project.
Helpful Website and Organization:
Americanforests.org
A conservation organization with a “Champion Tree” Program, historic tree nursery, and many other resources for and about trees.
Lab Topics:
- What is DBH and how do we measure it?
- How do you measure tree height and what is a clinometer?
- How do you calculate crown spread?
- What is Critical Rooting Area (CRA) and how do you figure it out?
Outdoor Lab Activities : work in groups of 2 or more
- Choose a tree and determine the crown width. Measure out 3 to 5 times the crown width. Use flags to mark this area representing the potential root spread of this tree.
- Measure DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) of several trees. Hint: Circumference = Diameter x 3.14 (C=Dπ)
- On the tree that you determined crown width, calculate the Critical Rooting Area and use contrasting color flags to represent the CRA.
- Measure several tree heights using the clinometer and tape measure.
- Using the STCC Tree Evaluation Sheet provided, evaluate one tree. Gather with the group to review the evaluation sheet and ask questions.
Supplies needed:
- Tree measuring handouts (see box on left)
- Tape Measures
- Marking flags, 2 colors
- Clinometers
- Clipboards
- Tree Caliper
- STCC Tree Evaluation Sheets
- Calculator
- Pen or pencil
