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In House Study:  CP-Ring Growth

Started: April 20th, 2011.
Concluded:  September 1st, 2014
Publish: October 2nd, 2014


The Question:  Is there a collation between the number of growth rings per inch in fence picket milled from 2 growth bald-cypress and bald-cypress natural ability to provide natural protection against fungal decay  ?

Background Research:   Bald-Cypress (Taxodium Distichum) is a slow growing, long living tree, which can reach height of 100 - 120 feet.   Bald cypress residing forest-stands, or natural condition, can take upwards of 200 years to develop a significant about of heartwood which is necessary for high lumber-yields.

True stability, strength, and resistance against insects and disease does not occur until a Bald-Cypress reaches an average age of seventy five or growth ring count per inch of 15-20.  The main reason is after 75 sufficient heartwood which produces significant levels a chemical called Cypressence.   

Stands of cypress located on plantations, where the floor is landscaped and maintain, can achieve a faster grown rate.  In a Mississippi Plantation, second growth, on abandon farm land, achieve a height of 69 ft with in 41 years. (1)

Cypress trees grow on average 10-12 inches a year and growth ring separation varies depending on environmental conditions and nutrient levels.  As a result, false rings, late growing wood, consisting of small close ridges and stain, can be misleading when determining the age of the tree (1), (2). 1st growth cypress growth ring counts can very 12-15 growth rings per in and second growth may be less. The growth rings per inch is also depend on the age of the tree when harvested.

Bald-cypress exist mainly, "...a long the Atlantic Coastal Plain from southern Delaware to southern Florida, westward along the lower Gulf Coast Plain to southeastern Texas. (4)" Most of the old growth cypress has been harvested and 2nd growth cypress harvest since the 1990 is believed to be less effective as 1st growth  (5).

Resources for background research:
(1) L. P. Wilhite and J. R. Toliver.
(2) Tree Ring Society Report University of Florida
(3) Quarterly Science Review:
(4) United States Department of Agriculture NRCS
(5) University of Florida IFAS Extension

Hypothesis:  Fence picket milled from Bald-Cypress trees, with a high growth ring count per inch, provide natural protection against fungal decay as it relates to physical appearance and internal structure.  

Testing Method:  For the purpose of this experiment, we will  test tree dimensional sizes of milled bald-cypress fence picket commonly use in the Central Florida Market Place.   The dimensional measurement of cypress fence picket that will be used are as followed:

•    1/2" x 6" x 6' bald-cypress milled fence picket.
•    3/4" x 4" x 6' bald-cypress milled fence picket.
•    1" x 4" x 6' bald-cypress milled fence picket.

Each dimensional size will be placed in free standing bends for a period of 2.5 years, in groups of 20 or 30 like pickets, which will have direct grown contact. 

The location of the testing area will be located on the Westside of a two-story house with a roof slop running North and South, minimum roof-slop exposure. The  GPS Coordinates of the testing area is: 28.550957606520782, -81.28097890410572.  Approximately 11' feet to the West of the testing area is a one story home with a roof line running west to east with a slop exposure of 8' x 40'.    The testing area moister will be dependant on the level of precipitation because the watershed from the one-story house.

All pickets will occasionally be rotated within there group to ensure lack of exposure to sunlight does not contribute to excessive mold growth. 

At the conclusion of the testing cycle, a random sample of two picket, of each dimensional size, will be pulled from their groups.  We will check for density after exposure by using a pliers and applying grip pressure.  Next, we will cut small samples and annotated the growth rings per inch.

Findings: 

Physical Appearance: When inspecting the outer integrity of the cypress picket against fungal decay,  the 1st collected sample, clear evidence exist which suggest that growth rings of 9 per inch displayed less signs of visual fungal decay.  A sample of 7 growth rings per inch showed noticeable amount of visual decay and disfigurement.  Two pickets consisting of 12  growth rings inch of displayed minimal visual fungal decay or damage.

Internal Structural Integrity:  When testing the structural integrity of the cypress pickets, by apply the plier test to second collected sample, with a growth ring count of 9 per inch, the 1/2" cypress picket showed clear signs of internal structural failure (RC 1/2".) The test was applied twice.   The 3/4" cypress picket with a growth ring count of 11 per inch showed a external loss of 1/8", but no internal structure damage.  The 1" cypress picket with a growth ring count of 12 per inch, showed no measurable internal structural loss.

 
Conclusion: There is a collation between the growth ring count of the cypress pickets ability to effectively protect against visual fungal decay; however, there is no collation between the cypress picket ability maintain internal structure against fungal decay based on the growth rings count per inch.  As a result, it can be concluded that internal structural integrity of a cypress pickets and it's ability to protect against fungal decay is more dependant on the thickness of the milled lumber over the growth ring count per inch.   

(RC-TEST SITE)

(RC-1/2") Plier Test.  

(RC-3/4") Plier Test

RC-1" Plier Test

RC-A2

In House Study: Pressure treated Pine Picket Vs Cypress Pickets

Started: Press Treated Pine 5/8" June 8th, 2007.
Started: Cypress Picket 1/2" September 1st, 2014.
Concluded:  September 1st, 2014
Publish: Reviewing Findings

The Question:  Does the use of cypress pickets provide a better level protection against fungal decay and insects over the pressure treated 5/8" pine picket milled from splash pine preserved with a chemical based solutions. 

Background Research:

SLASH PINE

Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii and Pinus elliottii var.) is a fast growing tree which can reach an average height between 60 to 100 feet on average.  In natural conditions, the life span reach upward of of 200 years.  The two most serious diseases which can effect the slash pine are fusiform rust and annosus root rot. Fusiform, a stem disease, affects seedlings and saplings which kill young trees(2).  Annosus root rot is a fungus (Heterobasidion annosum) which enters the tree wound and rots the roots(7). 

The Splash Pines is a native tree species which is abundantly found in southern states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina.  Its has been successfully introduced as far north as Kentucky and Virginia both in the wild and on plantations (6).   "Splash Pine prefers subtropical warm and humid climate located in swaps, low hammock, sloughs, along streams, barrier island, and in pine flat woods." (2).  Once harvested and milled it is a Hard and heavy wood with a high resin content which often used for railroad ties, poles, lumber and pilings.

Splash Pine is also grown in abundance on Brazilian tree-plantation located in states such as Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Bahia. Combined these states account for 73% of total of plantations growth of splash pine.  The main factors is a result of a climate conducive to rapid growth, advancements in technology, and forest incentives (6). Brazil is now considered to be one of the top player in exporting of wood products such as "...Lumber, boards, decks, fences and finished molding (6).   The United states accounts for 80% of the import.   

Pressure Treating Code:   

iBald-Cypress (Taxodium Distichum) is a slow growing, long living tree, which can reach height of 100 - 120 feet.   Bald cypress residing forest-stands, or natural condition, can take upwards of 200 years to develop a significant about of heartwood which is necessary for high lumber-yields.

True stability, strength, and resistance against insects and disease does not occur until a Bald-Cypress reaches an average age of seventy five or growth ring count per inch of 15-20.  The main reason is after 75 sufficient heartwood which produces significant levels a chemical called Cypressence.   

Stands of cypress located on plantations, where the floor is landscaped and maintain, can achieve a faster grown rate.  In a Mississippi Plantation, second growth, on abandon farm land, achieve a height of 69 ft with in 41 years. (1)

Cypress trees grow on average 10-12 inches a year and growth ring separation varies depending on environmental conditions and nutrient levels.  As a result, false rings, late growing wood, consisting of small close ridges and stain, can be misleading when determining the age of the tree (1), (2). 1st growth cypress growth ring counts can very 12-15 growth rings per in and second growth may be less. The growth rings per inch is also depend on the age of the tree when harvested.

Bald-cypress exist mainly, "...a long the Atlantic Coastal Plain from southern Delaware to southern Florida, westward along the lower Gulf Coast Plain to southeastern Texas. (4)" Most of the old growth cypress has been harvested and 2nd growth cypress harvest since the 1990 is believed to be less effective as 1st growth  (5).
 

Target wood:  (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, typical variety Pinus elliottii var. densa Little & Dorman, South Florida slash pine).
 

The question:  How does does the standard fence picket milled and Pressure treated fair with

Slash pine is an important timber species in the southeastern United
States.  Its strong, heavy wood is excellent for construction purposes.
Because of its high resin content, the wood is also used for railroad
ties, poles, and piling [7,24,26,27].

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) 

(1) USF

(2) USDA

(3) FLORIDATA  Great explanation on Splash pine.

(4) UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, IFAS  Natural Pest of the tree.

(5) THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATEN SPECIES.

(6) World of Forestry

(7) Alabama Forestry Commission

(8) Simpson Strong Ties Report on Fastener

Quality of Cypress Old Growth. Links

Cypress Wood and Lumber  Old growth lumber is 25 rings per inch.  The new stuff possess 15 rings per inch or less. Where there is less rings there are open spores.

University of Florida IFAS Extension   (In the 1990s, cypress harvest started to rise again as trees in previously harvested swamps grew to merchantable size. However, these trees have less decay-resistant hardwood than was found in old-growth cypress. Currently, cypress trees are harvested mainly for saw timber and landscape mulch.

Originally cypress mulch was produced using waste wood from sawmills. However the increased demand for mulch has led to an increase in harvesting the smaller pond cypress, as well as other cypress previously thought too small for harvesting.

UF/IFAS Extension does not recommend purchasing cypress mulch for your landscape. Younger trees harvested for mulch do not have the natural pest resistance of old-growth wood, and cypress tress are needed in our swamps where they serve an important ecological function.

Wieder Holder Creations  (What makes cypress so rot resistant is an oil called cypressene located in the heartwood. Old growth contains the highest concentration of cypressene. The stability and strength of old growth cypress is found in it’s high growth ring count (15-50 per inch). The many different tones of red, yellow, burgundy and chocolate are common to this wood.)

Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy "Alive in 1803."  "(When a tree is 75 years old or older," he explained, "they build up a resistance to insects and disease.")

Texas Parks and Wildlife  Identifies the common names of bald cypress.

Links

Lower Mississippi River Keepers Article on the Endanger Cypress Forrest. (Though many areas that were logged in the early 1900s have regenerated, local scientists believe that many of Louisiana’s coastal cypress forests would not grow back if they are now cut.)

Conservation, Protection and Utilization of Louisiana’s Coastal Wetland Forests: Commission report:  This is the commission reports where cites the problem with the coast areas and documents the problem with re growth within harvested areas.

Audubon Arkansas  Most 500 Bald Cypress tree have be harvested.  That cypress could be located in parts of the north, but those areas have been decimated.

Save Our Cypress Press Articles s Articles from national news organization about cypress mulch and the destruction of land.

Texas Parks & Wildlife
USDA NRCS Plant Guide
U.S. Forest Service Fire Effects Information System
U.S. Forest Service Silvics of North America