Trees go through active periods of growth and dormancy throughout the year. While actively growing, the tissues of the trees multiply and expand (thus the growth, lol), as the growth period ends and dormancy sets in, the outer most area, closest to the bark and “elements” kind of scars over to protect itself. When the new growth season starts, a new layer begins, producing distinctive “rings.” (the layers will vary in color from initiation of growth to onset of dormancy light to dark respectively) As others have stated, each ring roughly represents one year, or a growing season and dormancy period. Even evergreen trees show the distinctive rings, as cold weather deters growth, not necessarily induces dormancy. Hope that explains it!

Age makes the rings on a tree. If you cut down a tree, and count the rings….each ring is one year.

well each ring is a year of the trees age…. you know how trees get thicker as they grow older well that’s how the rings get there