Glossary term
What is Cavity?
Short answer
A cavity is a hollow in a trunk or limb where wood has rotted away or been damaged.
Cavity, explained for tree service owners
A cavity is an open or closed hollow space in a tree, usually caused by decay, a past wound or a broken limb. Some cavities are small and shallow, and a tree can live with them for many years. Others reach deep into the trunk and leave only a thin wall of sound wood. Cavities can also give homes to birds, squirrels and bats. For a tree service owner, a cavity is a key detail on any risk check. How big it is compared with the trunk width, where it sits and how much firm wood remains all matter. Do not promise safety from a quick look, and suggest a qualified arborist inspection when the hollow is large or the tree is near a home.
Related terms
- Arborist
Arborist is a trained tree care professional who plans and performs work on trees, including pruning, removal, tree health care and…
- Conk
A conk is the hard, shelf-like body of a wood-decay fungus that grows on a trunk, branch or stump.
- Included bark
Included bark is bark that gets trapped between two stems or branches growing close together, forming a weak joint.
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