| Trees can broadly be categorized into two; | | | | and less likely to become indented. They take long to |
| softwood and hardwoods. It is not always easy to | | | | grow, and normally shed off their leaves in fall and |
| tell them apart, but if you know how they look like, | | | | remain inactive until winter is over. Trees that fall |
| then you can differentiate between the two classes. | | | | under this category include mahogany, oak, maple, |
| Softwoods are mostly used in the construction | | | | birch and cherry. The growth rings on the hardwoods |
| industry and they are all around us in plenty. They | | | | are more even than those on the softwoods. The |
| include the evergreens, which are also known as | | | | reason for this is because the outer portion of the |
| coniferous trees. | | | | tree which is the sap wood, is replaced every year |
| The trees that fall under the softwood category | | | | with a new one. |
| include pine, fir, cedar and redwood. One interesting | | | | One may also need to know the most popular types |
| thing about the annual growth ring on the trunk of | | | | of trees for the purposes of home landscaping. |
| the softwood is that they have two sets of rings. | | | | Types of trees can be discussed based on very |
| The first one is the early-wood rings and the other is | | | | many other criteria, but the most common |
| the latewood ring. The early wood rings are formed | | | | categorization criterion is the season. Among the |
| during the spring season and are much broader than | | | | most commonly used is the fall foliage stand out. The |
| their counterparts, while the latewood rings are | | | | most common one under this category is the maple. |
| formed in the summer or fall season. | | | | You will come across other types of trees like olive, |
| Hardwoods on the other hand are preferred for | | | | shade, ash and evergreen trees, all of which are |
| making furniture and also for flooring purposes. The | | | | categorized based on a few given factors. |
| wood from such trees is very hard, hence durable | | | | |