Okay, so trees don’t actually have three lives, but they do have three stages in terms of the roles they play in their environment. These stages or “lives” can be described as:
- The Living Tree:
For us, this is the most obvious stage of a trees life. The living tree is actively growing and interacting with its environment. During this stage of its life a tree “exhales” oxygen and provides shade, and habitat for creatures. Depending on the tree, this stage could last for decades or longer. In the case of an Apple Tree, it is likely to last something between 30 and 100 years. Note that Apple Trees show characteristics referred to as ‘early-senescence’ which means that they grow old very early in their life; but that doesn’t mean they are dying, it just a normal process of aging they go through. - The Dead Tree (while standing):
When a tree dies, it still continues to play a vital role in the ecosystem. Standing dead trees provide homes for a huge variety of animals, including birds (e.g. woodpeckers), mammals (e.g. bats), insects, and fungi. Decomposition, which started when the tree died, continues to return nutrients to the environment, enriching it and created new opportunities for new growth among surrounding species. - The Dead Tree (when fallen):
Eventually the dead tree will fall, at which time it becomes part of the orchard floor and will provide food and shelter for even more life. Once fallen, the space left by the tree allows sunlight to the reach deeper into the orchard and encouraging new seedlings to grow. At the same time, the fallen tree holds moisture benefitting the surrounding environment and it’s presence helps to reduce soil erosion.
It’s important to understand how these differing stages of the trees life interconnected. and part of a continuous cycle. Even in its “dead” stages, a tree is not simply waste material, it is aiding nutrient cycling, maintaining biodiversity and contributing to the health and vitality of the forest ecosystem.
Leaving dead trees in place whenever possible is important for maintaining a thriving forest