Trees – Old age

Q: Do trees die from old age?

A: Much like humans, trees die do not from old age, but from infections and pests that overwhelm them when they are weak. That said, some trees are more susceptible to weakening factors like drought and disease, and so have a shorter average life span compared to trees that are not so vulnerable. For example, dogwoods are severely affected by heat, drought and leaf fungi, so their average life span in Georgia is 25 – 30 years. By contrast, a hardy white oak can easily surpass 100 years of age, because it is well adapted to Georgia conditions.