Old-timer in Portland taught me to read bark not leaves

Had a 70 year old climber named Jerry show me how to spot decay by looking at bark texture near the crotch of a big maple. He said most guys waste time staring at leaves while the tree is telling you right at the base. Anyone else have a mentor drop a weird simple trick on you like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

jake_martin162d ago

Forgets looking at the bark,

ray_king2d ago

Used to always look at the leaves first too, but Jerry's right. Caught a split on a big oak that I would've totally missed just checking foliage.