The sparse tree rings face south, and the dense tree rings face north. The tree rings on the south side are sparse, because there is plenty of sunshine on the south side, and the sunshine and rain are richer than the shady side facing north, so the trees facing south get more nutrients and grow stronger, so the rings are sparse.

Tree rings

In the same way, the north-facing side has a high density because it is shady and cannot absorb enough nutrients from the south. If you don't find the cut tree, you can look at the bottom of the tree again. Usually, the shady side of trees is easy to grow moss, and that side is the north.

Tree ring, also known as growth layer or growth ring, is a concentric ring on the cross section of woody plant stem, hence the name. Each annual ring represents the secondary xylem formed in a year, including early wood and late wood of that year, which changes rhythmically with the seasons because of cambium activity.