I have an old oak tree (probably as old as my house--81 years old)...I'm trying to treat it well so that it will last even longer...today I was pulling ivy off the trunk and I noticed that there was a distinct smell of vinegar coming from the tree bark. When I leaned closer, I confirmed it was definitely coming from the tree--kind of a clean smell, like apple cider vinegar but I find it strange! Kirsten
Tree smells like vinegar
Jun 29, 2005
2 Replies
"kc" wrote in news:L9ydnd-fw9MRl1 snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
Kirsten,
I split a lot of red oak for firewood, and I too have experienced that smell-- vinegar or almost a mustard smell from the wood. If you were smelling it from pulling ivy, I suspect it's coming from the corky bark and not the interior wood, so I wouldn't worry.
The message from "kc" contains these words:
You're probably smelling tannin, a natural preservative in oak bark. It used to be harvested for the natural preservation of animal hide, to make it into leather.
Janet.
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required