Tree ID

[BlueMule]

Can someone identify this standing dead tree by it's bark? I easily peeled the bark off at about the 4-5ft height. Is it too far gone to burn?

 

[BlueMule]

 

[bigbarf48]

I say cottonwood and I think it'd be fine to burn if you get it cut up and stacked in a dry place

 

[TwelveBravo]

I would agree with bigbarf48, looks like an Eastern Cottonwood. I would not turn anything away that is free and easy, but there are better woods.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

I'd also say cottonwood

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Has anyone mentioned that this might be cottonwood?

 

[Applesister]

Im gonna throw a wrench in the party and say Chestnut Oak. Quercus prinus. They used to have it classified as Quercus montana.
Chestnut oak is in the white oak family. The trees in my woodlot are doing the same thing. dying. Dont know whats killing them.
The only way you'll know how much solid wood you have will be to cut it down. It may be solid in places but punky in others.
It does kinda look like cottonwood. Kind of.

 

[Applesister]

But Im going with Oak..white oak.

 

[BlueMule]

I might cut it down for the experience and wow factor. BUT, it's got woodpeckers running all over it, and I love birds. Hmmmm.

To cut it down or not cut it down. That is the question...

 

[Gunny]

Do you like birds that much or do you like FREE good burning fuel. Up to you but all the birds in the world won't heat your house. Just say'n

 

[webby3650]

But Im going with Oak..white oak.

Never seen white Oak with deep furrows like that! Chestnut Oak sure, but not White.

 

[Applesister]

Im not gonna say to cut it down. Sometimes you cant make a proper hinge cut and it goes backwards. But sick trees are at the top of my cutdown list. If its easy to get to, even more so.

I know, chit or go blind.

 

[Applesister]

Never seen white Oak with deep furrows like that! Chestnut Oak sure, but not White.

I didnt say Quercus alba.
Quercus prinus

 

[webby3650]

I didnt say Quercus alba.
Quercus prinus

It's OK to use the common language around here.

 

[BrotherBart]

I'm the one that says too far gone to burn. The woodpeckers are giving its highest and best use.

 

[bigbarf48]

The orange ring visible in pic number 2 makes me pretty confident that it's cottonwood

Not the best wood so if you aren't hurting for wood and don't feel like taking it down, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it

 

[Corey]

Cottonwood is what I first thought on seeing the bark (and before reading the 10x 'cottonwood' replies) Hardly worth a cent to burn... if it's in your yard, or the tree would fall into your firewood stack when you cut it down, might be worth it, but I sure wouldn't drive any distance to get it or spend much gas hauling it. Also, cottonwood is the only wood I actually cover in the stack... it might blow away in a strong wind, otherwise!

 

[Ehouse]

I'm the one that says too far gone to burn. The woodpeckers are giving its highest and best use.

I agree, leave it for the 'peckers, unless it's where it might fall on someone or something.

 

[BlueMule]

After reading all the replies on the quality of cottonwood for burning, I'm going to leave it alone. The tree is huge and would be a massive investment of time and effort when I've got other immediate tangible resources that would be more worthwhile to cull from such as the rest of my 5+ wooded acres with hickory, tulip poplar and oak, and the wife's family has 117 acres of almost all oak in Western Maryland. And while I've got 5+acres to store the wood, my property straddles a creek valley with a steep hill at either side. There is very little level ground in a short circumference of the house which designates that area as storage for wood to be burned during the present season. Wood that is being stacked for seasoning goes down in the creek valley and hauling it up the hill is a pain because of a 2wd ATV with a weak engine.

Thanks everybody for the replies whether they went one way or another in viewpoint. Good learning experience from a great website and membership.