Types of Trees: Oak vs. Maple vs. Hickory
Are you a homeowner?
Anyone lucky enough to live in Connecticut knows this is a state filled with gorgeous forests filled with thousands of species of plants and trees. When it’s time to invest in home renovations or to remove a dead tree from your property, it’s important to understand the differences between the different types of trees in this gorgeous state.
Fortunately, this article can help. Here we take a look at the oak vs maple vs hickory to give you a better idea of which hardwood might be right for your next project. Keep reading to discover an overview of fascinating tree facts.
Identifying Each Type of Tree
Let’s start by talking about how to identify each of these three species of tree in your yard. There’s no denying that all three trees are lovely, but it’s actually quite easy to tell them apart.
Generally speaking, a maple tree can be differentiated from others by its gumdrop-shaped silhouette. Norway and red maples are some of the first trees to bud out in the Spring. Many people will also recognize the “helicopters” or samaras that they produce. Most importantly, it’s worth mentioning that this genus of trees is especially striking during the fall. This is a time of year when a maple’s foliage ranges from bright yellow to orange to fiery red.
Oak trees grow very tall and have an open vase shaped canopy. Their bark is variable depending on the species but they all drop acorns. Acorn production varies year to year. Heavy acorn producing years are referred to as “mast years”. Oak trees produce rich, muted tones in their foliage. In the fall, oak tree leaves are gold, brown, red, and russet, although some oaks in the south remain evergreen throughout the year.
The hickories are another genus of trees that produce nuts. They are round and typically split open into four sections. The leaves of a hickory are quite pronounced. The four common species in Connecticut may have up to 9 leaflets per leaf, making them very long and graceful. Hickory tree bark is variable. Some species are grey and tightly ridged, while others become quite shaggy and shed easily as the tree matures.
The Differences In Each Type of Wood
Now let’s take a look at the wood of each tree.
Maple is a hardwood that tends to be white with a tight grain, and yet maple is sold as both a hard and soft wood. The softer variety of maple is ideal for making furniture, while hardwood maple is the best choice for durable items like butcher’s block cutting boards.
Oak is reddish-brown. It’s used to produce cabinetry, furniture, hardwood flooring, and is also ideal for carving. Oak is also a popular choice for wine and brandy barrels. The pores of oakwood are easily visible to the naked eye.
Hickory is another hardwood that’s reddish-brown. It’s typically straight-grained, although the grain can also be wavy or irregular. The sapwood of a hickory tree is light in color. This type of wood is popular for products like golf club shafts, tennis racquets, skis, hammer and pick handles, drum sticks, and for use in plywood veneers.
A Guide to Popular Types of Trees For Hardwood Projects
When it comes to planning a home improvement project or clearing trees from your property, the more you know about each species the better. Fortunately, this guide to different types of trees in Connecticut will help you be a more informed homeowner.
Please contact us today to request a free estimate for clearing trees from your property.
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greg v2023-10-25Great team and very professional, they efficiently took down some large older trees that were dying and hanging over my house and in very difficult positions while also requiring them to manage traffic, I will definitely use them again in the futurePeter Kelly2023-10-16I would give 6 Stars if I could. This is the third time I've used Justin and his crew of Arbortech. He and his crew go above and beyond in the services they provide. They do all, and then some, of what I contracted them to do. His crew is personable, professional, and tidy. They left my place cleaner than when they got here. Can't say enough. Use them. You won't be disappointed.Tracy Cole2023-10-13Great job…nice clean up!! Will use them again!!!Roger Leardi2023-10-12These guys are professionals. They came when they said they would, they were quick, neat and professional. They did exactly what they quoted. The crew was polite and friendly. I was super pleased with the service and would highly recommend them if you need tree service.Venus Dickson2023-09-28Arbor tech and their crew were amazing!!! Not only did I not have to wait a long time to schedule the work, but they also came on time the day of. The crew were friendly, professional and helpful. They went above and beyond what I expected them to do. They even cleaned up afterwards as if they weren’t even there. The price I was quoted was reasonable and they did not charge more than was quoted. The whole experience was fantastic. I will be using them in the future. I highly recommend them! You will not be disappointed.Pamela Hayden2023-09-22Absolutely the very best. They arrived on time. The yard was taken care of and left in perfect shape. They did everything we asked ……we will definitely be using them again. The gentlemen doing the job were pleasant and professional.Richard Roy2023-09-22All aspects of our experience with Arbortech were beyond expectation (5+ stars at all levels). From the scheduling process and ongoing coordination and discussions with Lindsey to the onsite discussions with Justin, and finally with the crew while the work was being done, we couldn't be happier. They listened, they provided insight to our project while remaining very sensitive to our privacy concerns with the trimming of our pines. In an evolving world where a lot of customer care seems to have vanished, we are grateful we found a company where it seems to be a core component of their values. HIGHLY RECOMMENDEdward Figiela2023-09-11That are a great company to work with would recommend them to all!!Greer Cunningham2023-09-09From start to finish our experience with Arbortech was wonderful! Lindsey was extremely responsive and worked with us to set up both the estimate and schedule the work. She even communicated with our neighbor to coordinate the timing as we needed to use their driveway for the job. Justin came promptly to look at our trees, explained our options in a very clear an professional way, and gave us an extremely fair estimate. The guys who came and did the work did a really great job and cleaned up everything afterwards, so we (and our neighbor) were very happy. They were also very friendly and gracious even though they were working during a crazy heat wave- they appreciated the popsicles I gave them! I highly recommend Arbortech Tree Service!
