CODIT
/KOH-dit/🌲 Arboriculture●●● Advanced
Also known as: compartmentalization
CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees) is a model developed by Dr. Alex Shigo describing how trees naturally wall off decay through four barrier zones. Wall 1 resists vertical spread through vessel plugging, Wall 2 resists inward spread at annual ring boundaries, Wall 3 resists lateral spread through ray cells, and Wall 4 (the barrier zone) is the strongest, formed by new growth after wounding.
Etymology
Acronym coined by Dr. Alex Shigo, from Latin compartiri (to share) + decay
Example
“Understanding CODIT helps arborists make proper pruning cuts that support the tree's natural compartmentalization process.”