Tree Identification

[diesel59]

I have two maples of some sort in the front yard that I haven't been able to identify. They are only about 20 ft tall and approximately the same around (maybe a bit more). Any help is appreciated!

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[Wood Duck]

Those are Norway Maple. If you break the stem of a leaf you should see some white sap. The similar Sugar Maple has clear sap. Sugar Maple does not have the furrowed bark, resembling Ash bark which is shown in the pictures. I'd cut them, burn them, and replace with a nicer tree. Norway Maple has a very dense root system close to the surface which prevents anything else from growing beneath a mature Norway Maple. THey are also among the most invasive trees in much of eastern US and Canada. On the bright side, they make very good firewood.

 

[diesel59]

Those are Norway Maple. If you break the stem of a leaf you should see some white sap. The similar Sugar Maple has clear sap. Sugar Maple does not have the furrowed bark, resembling Ash bark which is shown in the pictures. I'd cut them, burn them, and replace with a nicer tree. Norway Maple has a very dense root system close to the surface which prevents anything else from growing beneath a mature Norway Maple. THey are also among the most invasive trees in much of eastern US and Canada. On the bright side, they make very good firewood.

Good deal. Thanks! I would definitely cut em and burn em. Both of them are about half dead anyway, so we should get something else in there so it can start growing early next season. Any recommendations for a quick growth maple for shade?

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[Soundchasm]

I'll be interested in any ensuing discussion. When I looked into growth rates, my conclusion was that oaks grow about as fast as anything. I transplanted a 6' red oak volunteer 15 years ago that has grown way beyond my expectations.

I just began to think about a 60 year tree as opposed to a 200 year tree. My personal $.02 is that there will never be another silver maple on any property I own.

This shot is from 2014, and it has to be double the mass by now.

 

[Soundchasm]

This red oak has amazed me. One shot is from 2004, and the other from today. It might have been almost 6' tall when we moved it in 2003. That little bend was the top, so it grew a foot the first year. Now it's taller than the TV antenna by a few feet.

If you've got your heart set on a maple, then by all means get one. I am a fan of sugar maples. They don't fall down or get knocked over. One saved my house from a huge black cherry tree that snapped off at the base. The maple split vertically from top to bottom but took the hit. Believe me, I'm a fan.

Depending on how much property, you might consider planning a little diversity. Seems every tree has its nemesis. Asian Longhorn Beetle, Ash Borer, blight, etc.

 

[Hasufel]

I'll be interested in any ensuing discussion. When I looked into growth rates, my conclusion was that oaks grow about as fast as anything. I transplanted a 6' red oak volunteer 15 years ago that has grown way beyond my expectations.

I usually count rings when I buck a tree and found that, at least around here, tulip poplars grow faster than red oaks. A 100-120 year old oak will be similar in diameter and height to a 75 year old poplar.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

I usually count rings when I buck a tree and found that, at least around here, tulip poplars grow faster than red oaks. A 100-120 year old oak will be similar in diameter and height to a 75 year old poplar.

Tulip poplars grow fast. I cut down a big one that was just a seed when I was 15. They are dirty trees prone to fall over. Just the way they were designed by mother nature. I will never plant one on purpose.

 

[Soundchasm]

I usually count rings when I buck a tree and found that, at least around here, tulip poplars grow faster than red oaks. A 100-120 year old oak will be similar in diameter and height to a 75 year old poplar.

I definitely agree 100%. I guess my conclusion was that oaks weren't the "slow growing" stereotypes I'd always heard. I concluded they'd grow plenty fast for my needs. I'm figuring the gain in overall lifetime and quality of the tree justified the slight reduction in growth rate. And very few things make me happier than thinking someone will curse my name 250 year from now, if they only knew it!

My neighbor had a poplar growing next to his driveway. The first limb drop crushed his camper shell on his truck. The second limb drop missed his truck but took out some gutters. The third drop resulted in me being able to show you the stump!!

Just read that a Pin Oak grows very quickly. My impression is those grow in form more like a Christmas tree than a shade tree. My other neighbor planted some pin oaks not that long ago and they're HUGE!

But the OP mention maples, and all I know to recommend is a Sugar Maple.

 

[Hasufel]

And very few things make me happier than thinking someone will curse my name 250 year from now, if they only knew it!

I doubt they'd be cursing your name. They'll probably be enjoying the shade of a 250 year old oak while marveling at how it survived the oak blight of 2150. And when it comes time to bring it down, they'll send their automated flying tree bot to slice it up, split the rounds, and stack the wood neatly in their backyard, after which they'll telepathically connect to hearth.com and engage in a flame war over whether Stihl or Husky tree bots are better.

My neighbor had a poplar growing next to his driveway. The first limb drop crushed his camper shell on his truck. The second limb drop missed his truck but took out some gutters. The third drop resulted in me being able to show you the stump!!

Yup, my poplars are the same way--they're always dropping branches. Sometimes I wonder how they still have any branches left! So I agree, they're a little faster growing if you need shade right away but less desirable than maples & oaks over the longer term.

 

[Soundchasm]

I doubt they'd be cursing your name. They'll probably be enjoying the shade of a 250 year old oak while marveling at how it survived the oak blight of 2150. And when it comes time to bring it down, they'll send their automated flying tree bot to slice it up, split the rounds, and stack the wood neatly in their backyard, after which they'll telepathically connect to hearth.com and engage in a flame war over whether Stihl or Husky tree bots are better.


Yup, my poplars are the same way--they're always dropping branches. Sometimes I wonder how they still have any branches left! So I agree, they're a little faster growing if you need shade right away but less desirable than maples & oaks over the longer term.

I've read this several times and I'm still (not Stihl) chuckling!! I've spent my whole life wishing I was clever!!