Thread: How long will a burl keep growing/ when to haverst a burl

Not sure about how long they take to grow, or even if there is a stopping size

You can however cut them off without hurting the tree, provided you treat/seal the scare, to ensure no infection gets in. Interestingly enough, that last photo looks like the burl has been harvested before, but could be just photo.

Looks like it could actually be a cap, which is what grows over where an existing branch grew prior to it having been either cut off or from the limb breaking off.

Originally Posted by Acco

Looks like it could actually be a cap, which is what grows over where an existing branch grew prior to it having been either cut off or from the limb breaking off.

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that, but still I don't think it would be; the growth seemed pretty uniformly spherical, it was way too low down for there to be any sizeable branch to have dropped off, there were no other such growths and it was also quite a different colour to the rest of the trunk. I have not really dealt with burls before, but to me that indicates it is more than just a branch cap.

Dai- If/when I cut it off, what would be a good sealer to prevent infection? Just a bit of wax or something? And the last photo was me just picking/ slicing off a bit of bark around the collar where it attaches to the trunk to see if it was all still living and green. Where it was growing makes me think it is pretty unlikely anyone has harversted it before (and as far as I know I am the only woody in my neck of the woods!)

Would still be good to know if this will continue to grow etc, if anyone has any clue on that?

Interesting!1 I would not think of that as a true burl, but what is a burl anyway?

Originally Posted by Oiliver

Dai- If/when I cut it off, what would be a good sealer to prevent infection?

I only seal my turning blanks, not sure if you can use the same products on a live tree. Try ringing a local arborist, they should be able to advise, might know about continuing to grow question too.

Originally Posted by artme

Interesting!1 I would not think of that as a true burl, but what is a burl anyway?

I don't know either to be honest! I've looked it up a few times and there doesn't seem to be any consensus, people just say "disfigured, bulbous growths" or "abnormal growths covered in bark" or a "knotted abnormal bud growth". And apparently a gall is very small, and usually on the roots, so aside from calling it a Wood-Tumour (which I quite like the sound of) I guess I have to stick with 'burl'!

I will see what I can track down to seal it, I will have a look at what is hiding in the workshop, and then compare it to online sources! It isnt the end of the world if the tree does die, anyhow.

from what i have read no one is sure what really causes a burl but there are a few theories as to what does 1. is a wound
2. fungus/ virus
3. genetic deformity as burls tend to be in groups of trees within seeding distance
now i dont know if this is true but its just what i have read on other web sites.
And as for sealing i think there are special anti fungal products but some people use just plain paint but i think just leave it bare as trees have natural defenses built in, as when a limn breaks off

That has to be the wierdest looking burl I've ever seen . At first glance it looks more like a fungi From my observations a burl will continue to grow with the tree as long as the tree lives. As long as the burl has bark, there is a cambium layer below it that will keep 'adding' to the tree and cutting the burl off is no different to cutting a branch off really. If it's easy to access and you're not in a big hurry, I would just measure the circumference every six months or so and work out how fast it is growing - then harvest it whenever it suits you

Originally Posted by TTIT

That has to be the wierdest looking burl I've ever seen . At first glance it looks more like a fungi From my observations a burl will continue to grow with the tree as long as the tree lives. As long as the burl has bark, there is a cambium layer below it that will keep 'adding' to the tree and cutting the burl off is no different to cutting a branch off really. If it's easy to access and you're not in a big hurry, I would just measure the circumference every six months or so and work out how fast it is growing - then harvest it whenever it suits you

Hmm, maybe we grow 'em strange here over the ditch! That's what my Dad said when he first looked at the picture, too; but I am pretty sure it isn't a fungi because it is hard as wood, sounds like wood when you knock on it, has a bark layer and then sap wood underneath, as well as being really firmly attached to the tree!

So it may get bigger yet huh... How patient can I be! Well with the lathe out of commision for now, I guess it makes sense to just leave it on the tree.

Good to know from both of you ^ that it is just like chopping off a branch. I had read someplace that it often caused the tree's death, but obviously that was iffy information. I will just bung a bit paint or maybe some vaseline (so it can wash off eventually) when I do get around to cutting it.

Thanks

My understanding of burls is that it is the tree healing, or at least attempting to heal itself, following mechanical damage, infection or other disease. However that may not be the whole story.

If, for example, burls formed everytime a branch broke off we would see burls everywhere and that is not the case. So there has to be another factor such as an over-reaction of the healing process which continues to grow the burl even when the wound has been covered.

The "burl" in the picture does look odd and in fact reminds me more of a fungus. When you finally decide to harvest it I guess we will find out. I would keep an eye on it and see what happens.

Regards
Paul

So it turns out when I get bored, I get in a mood. And when I get in a mood, I like to chop stuff up. And when all the blanks are already as far chopped as they can be, what can you do but go for a walk and start cutting down burls you know of! :P So yes, it turns out I have the patience of a five-year-old, but at least that means we find out what my growth was.

..drumroll...

It was a burl, not a fungus!!
I chopped it off no problem at all, and I'm leaving the cut on the tree to air dry for now. If it starts to grow mould or anything, I might give it a wee spray of antifungal just to help it along. The burl was surprising heavy, so there is obviously a LOT of moisture in it. When I first cut it, there was a wee red 'heart wood' bit in the center about 10mm, but that faded really quickly. But no inclusions, so it doesn't seem to have formed from a broken branch or from a wound of some sort.. interesting.

Anyhow, being as wet as it was, I quickly brought it up to the shed and slathered it in a nice shade of Hyacinth to (hopefully!!) stop it from splitting. I didn't get a good look at the grain, because by the time I had bought it out of the bush, it had already started to discolour and got a bit too dark to tell, but it looked nice and dense. So I am pleased with that, now I just have to wait for the massive amounts of moisture to slowly leave it Not moooore waiting!