Tree Girdling

Tree girdling is used to remove trees without cutting the tree down to control and thin tree populations, remove invasive species, and create habitat for other organisms. Girdling a tree is done by cutting a complete ring around the tree trunk through the bark and cambium, which keeps water from reaching the top of the trunk and leaves. By cutting completely around the diameter of the tree, through the cambium, the tree is unable to repair the damage and is unable to move water or nutrients, which eventually kills the tree.

• What is wrong with this tree? Why would someone cut around the trunk of the tree?

• What resources would be unavailable to the crown of the tree? Roots?
• What would happen to the tree because of this damage?
• How does water and food move through the tree?

Students could:

• Draw a model of how water and sugar move through the tree to the leaf for photosynthesis.
• Examine a tree cookie to see the different structures within the tree and make a claim about how water and sugar moves.
• Examine leaves, root and trunk of tree for entry and exit of matter through the tree due to photosynthesis.

• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation | What is "Girdling?":Video of a tree being girdled in Appanoose County, Iowa.
• US Forest Service | Tree Girdling Tools: Introduction to the importance and reasons for tree girdling.
• US Forest Service | Anatomy of a Tree: Diagram of the basic anatomy of a tree trunk.