By Kelly Geer, Urban Tree Merchants
PART ONE
It may be hot in Texas but we are still blessed to be surrounded by many lush and beautiful trees that offer shade, blooms, and even nuts to eat! This article will help you identify and learn more about five of the most popular trees in North Texas and take you behind the bark to see the unique wood grains hiding all around us.
Ash
Fraxinus velutina or Arizona Ash is a large and fast-growing shade tree with a rounded canopy and light green leaves. It is well suited for hot, dry conditions. Ash wood is considered a hardwood however it is also lightweight and shock-resistant making it popular for baseball bats and other sports equipment as well as durable furniture like tables and desks. Ash trees are very susceptible to freeze damage and are currently under attack in North Texas from the Emerald Ash Borer, a dark green beetle that weakens trees in the winter and kills them in the summer. Contact an Arborist if you believe your trees might be infested.
Live Oak
Live oak, Quercus virginiana, elicit an image of the ‘Deep South’ & tree-lined streets with Spanish moss dangling from their limbs. Live oaks are stately trees with spreading canopies that provide extensive shade. They are popular landscaping trees in North Texas because they will grow in almost any soil type and they are evergreen, dropping their leaves in February/March instead of the fall. Live oak typically have long, extending branches that give the tree it’s unique shape.
Pecan
Texas’ state tree, Carya illinoinensis, is a species of hickory and in the walnut family. Pecan is a grand tree that grows a large trunk, provides nutritious nuts & deep shade. Pecans grow fairly rapidly & makes a nice landscape tree in a large yard or park. Wildlife love the pecans. A mature tree can be over 100 feet tall and 100 feet wide with a lifespan of over 300 years.
Post Oak
Post oak (Quercus stellata) has a beautiful branching structure that speaks to rugged determination and strength. The post oak got its name from early settlers who commonly used the decay resistant wood for fence posts. Post oak takes several forms but most familiar are the upright majestic shade trees with twisted and knarled branches. If you have Post oak trees and are considering removing some; think long & hard because these beautiful trees cannot be replaced in your lifetime. They are among the last trees to leaf out in the spring and one of the earliest to stop growing, which contribute to their slow growth rate. The average post oak takes more than ten years to grow 2” in trunk diameter, however, it becomes a dominant species on poor sites due to its drought resistance. Post oaks are not often found at nurseries so if you have the chance to plant one on your property, don’t pass up the occasion!
Red Oak
The Shumard Oak is a stately tree with great urban adaptability. This fast growing oak is a popular choice with homeowners assist provides quick shade & excellent fall color in a very attractive shape. Shumard Red Oaks, Quercus shumardii, grow naturally along streams & in moist forests, however, they do excellent in landscape settings because they are drought tolerant. Red Oaks produce small acorns loved by deer and squirrels.
If your tree dies or needs to be removed, consider giving a piece of the tree a second life in your home or office. Before you contact a Certified Arborist or ISA Certified Tree Care Company to remove the tree, reach out to a local sawmill or woodworker to talk about your options for having a part of the tree made into custom wood furniture piece or wood décor item. At Urban Tree Merchants, we are a tree to table company which means we walk with our clients through every stage of the design process from log collection, milling, and drying to finishing, epoxy work, custom bases, and installation. Learn more on our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
In Behind the Bark Part Two, we will take a look at American Elm, Bald Cypress, Cedar, Cottonwood, and Pine.