Big tree ID

[Ashful]

Went for a walk with the kid and dogs tonight, and spotted this monster. Would love to know what it is. Looks like some sort of oak to me, but nothing like the oaks I grew up with. Span had to be over 100 feet, couldn't even get all the low reaching branches in the photo frame.

 

[bogydave]

Looks like the mighty oak "hanging tree".
Has been around a few generations & seen some changes happen in it's neighborhood.

Not sure, but think it's in the red oak family.

 

[paul bunion]

Looks more like a white oak to me going by the bark. If the leaves have rounded lobes it is a white, if they are pointed then it is a red, I can't tell from the pictures.

 

[TreePointer]

+1

White oak.

 

[Woody Stover]

(broken image removed)

 

[Ashful]

Leaves were rounded, IIRC, so likely some type of white. I'm used to oaks that stand much taller, so this one caught my eye. Would look fantastic in my front yard!

This tree is on land that was formerly part of my property, but now it's a park with baseball and soccer fields, and a long walking path.

 

[Woody Stover]

I'm used to oaks that stand much taller, so this one caught my eye. Would look fantastic in my front yard!

This tree is on land that was formerly part of my property, but now it's a park with baseball and soccer fields, and a long walking path.

Yeah, when they don't have to compete for light, like they do in the woods, they will spread out and take their natural shape. That's an impressive tree!
I think I see some of the characteristic flaky bark of White Oak. The stuff in the pic I posted is White...

 

[nrford]

White oak

 

[Nick Mystic]

I don't mean to steal this thread, but it relates to a question I have. There is a similar tree to this one in the middle of a neighbor's pasture where I live. This is one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen since it is so symmetrical and full. My wife and I was saddened this year to see that this marvelous tree had apparently died! I can't get up close to it due to the cows in the pasture, so I have no idea what might have killed it. My question: How does one go about cutting down a tree with so much overhanging crown? I've cut down a lot of trees in my time, but never one where the crown was so spread out overhead. I can't imagine cutting it down like I cut down trees where you can feel fairly safe with few large overhead branches so near overhead. Does this sort of tree require someone climbing the tree or using a bucket truck to take limbs down systematically before you drop the main trunk? Or, can you just cut it down like any other tree?

 

[Wood Duck]

The big tree looks like a White Oak based on the bark. The leaves aren't fully developed yet which may be why they are hard to ID from the picture. When they grow in the open White Oaks tend to get wide rather than tall. So do most types of Oaks, but White more so than most. In the woods White Oak will grow tall and narrow.

 

[Woody Stover]

one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen since it is so symmetrical and full...can't get up close to it due to the cows in the pasture

OK, we're gonna need some pics here. These are just regular cows, not some special breed of attack cow, right? They probably won't attack unless there are calves around. Or you could use the zoom on your camera....

 

[Applesister]

It hasnt fully leafed out yet but the way they are unfolding it looks alot like English Oak. Which makes me wonder if there are any English oaks in this country.
I have a Burr oak and a Post oak sitting side by side on the fenceline between neighboring land. They are both spreading trees. Dont know how you would cut them. If you cut the the bole first, 90% of the branches would out of reach.

 

[Applesister]

Can you go back when the leaves flatten and snap a pic for us?

 

[Ashful]

Sure! Will do.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Joful, that is a very typical white oak. You can tell just by the shape and then looking at the bark and leaf confirms it easily. Lots of firewood there.

For cutting those, you need a saw with a long bar. Then it helps if you some experience to know the best way to start on the limbs. Rather than trying to describe that, I think it is best to not do that on the forum.

 

[Ashful]

No interest in cutting this one! I was just admiring it.

If I were to cut it, I'd be limbing it first.

 

[ScotO]

That sure looks like a mighty white oak to me, too.....
I love those big trees like that. Lots of them over in my grandparents' old place......
Big, old growth trees. Monstrous branches.....and I just heard that the new homeowners (some of the laziest people I've ever met in my life) don't like dealing with the leaves and acorns, so they are looking at having them cut down. And I'll be devastated if they do that. Those trees have been there for over 5 generations of my family. They are in all kinds of family pictures, as far back as the 20's and 30's.....

 

[Woody Stover]

I love those big trees like that. Lots of them over in my grandparents' old place......
Big, old growth trees. Monstrous branches.....and I just heard that the new homeowners (some of the laziest people I've ever met in my life) don't like dealing with the leaves and acorns, so they are looking at having them cut down. And I'll be devastated if they do that. Those trees have been there for over 5 generations of my family. They are in all kinds of family pictures, as far back as the 20's and 30's.....

 

[ScotO]

I know....it SUX!
But, what are you going to do? It's their property, not much I can do......
I was asked to help with the take-down of them by the guy who is going to do the job. He said I can have a good portion of the wood. But I am really reserved about helping with the job, and furthermore taking that stuff and burning it. Lots of memories in that wood.......I'm not sure what I am going to do.

 

[Woody Stover]

I know....it SUX!
But, what are you going to do? It's their property, not much I can do......
I was asked to help with the take-down of them by the guy who is going to do the job. He said I can have a good portion of the wood. But I am really reserved about helping with the job, and furthermore taking that stuff and burning it. Lots of memories in that wood.......I'm not sure what I am going to do.

Tough choice you have to make but my initial thought was, who better to burn that wood than you?

 

[lukem]

I don't mean to steal this thread, but it relates to a question I have. There is a similar tree to this one in the middle of a neighbor's pasture where I live. This is one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen since it is so symmetrical and full. My wife and I was saddened this year to see that this marvelous tree had apparently died! I can't get up close to it due to the cows in the pasture, so I have no idea what might have killed it. My question: How does one go about cutting down a tree with so much overhanging crown? I've cut down a lot of trees in my time, but never one where the crown was so spread out overhead. I can't imagine cutting it down like I cut down trees where you can feel fairly safe with few large overhead branches so near overhead. Does this sort of tree require someone climbing the tree or using a bucket truck to take limbs down systematically before you drop the main trunk? Or, can you just cut it down like any other tree?

Lightning would be my guess at COD. Safer to limb it before dropping but I've seen it done both ways. Beeter have no wind and a big pair to drop it without limbing it first.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I know....it SUX!
But, what are you going to do? It's their property, not much I can do......
I was asked to help with the take-down of them by the guy who is going to do the job. He said I can have a good portion of the wood. But I am really reserved about helping with the job, and furthermore taking that stuff and burning it. Lots of memories in that wood.......I'm not sure what I am going to do.

What's this about taking "a good portion of the wood?" Take it down and take it all or have someone else do the cutting.

 

[ScotO]

What's this about taking "a good portion of the wood?" Take it down and take it all or have someone else do the cutting.

Actually, Sav, the current owners of my grandparent's place are going to hire their cousin, who does tree removal on the side as well. Funny thing is, the guy who is going to do the removal always calls me on big jobs or jobs he's afraid to tackle by himself (same guy who gave me the big black walnut tree job last year). If I do help him, I'll only take a portion of the wood. He sells the wood he cuts, but if I help him out, he'll pay me AND give me a portion of the wood.....

 

[Nick Mystic]

I walked down the road a few minutes ago and took some photos of my quintessential tree! As you look at it try to picture it as it used be in full foliage. It looks like there is still some new growth on some limbs near the bottom, but the tree definitely looks like it's a dead tree standing to me.





This second photo I took using my zoom on the camera. The cows in the pasture do have calves, so I'm not eager to hike over for a closer look.

We have some gorgeous trees on our own property, but nothing out in the open like this. Here are a couple photos of nice trees up near our house:





I don't have a camera with the correct type of lens to get good photos of things as large as these trees. I can't get far enough away to get the entire tree in the photo with camera on some of the other large, gorgeous trees nearby.