Douglas fir needles are arranged in a spiral around the twig (making it appear bushy) while hemlock needles are arranged mostly in a single plane (making the twig appear flatter). Yew
Taxus
Taxus is a small genus of coniferous trees or shrubs known as yews in the family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 2.5–20 metres, with trunk girth averaging 5 metres. They have reddish bark, lanceolate, flat, dark-green leaves 1…
Which is stronger Redwood vs Douglas fir?
Redwood lumber has an added advantage of being an insect repellent. However, Douglas fir lumber scores over Redwood lumber because of its great strength to weight ratio. Structurally Douglas fir lumber is stronger than Redwood lumber, and perhaps that is why it is used more frequently for preparing frames of building structures.
What is the difference between Hemlock and fir?
What Is the Difference Between a Fir Tree & a Hemlock?
- Size. Of the hemlocks, only western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) challenges the mature height of the majority of fir trees.
- Needles. The evergreen foliage of fir trees differs from that of hemlocks. ...
- Cones. Fir tree cones come in a wide array of sizes. ...
- Growing Conditions and Geography. Hemlocks adapt to shady sites more readily than do the fir trees. ...
Is Douglas fir a good wood?
- Douglas Fir Wood lasts long after exposure to water. ...
- Due to its strength, the Douglas-fir is mostly used for building and construction. ...
- We know that plywood is an important construction material and has the strength of wood. ...
- Douglas Fir timber is also used for large construction side pay sports. ...
Which Wood is harder, Douglas fir or oak?
Oak, Ash and Walnut are all very hard angiosperms. However, Douglas fir, which is a gymnosperm, or softwood, is actually harder than chestnut, an angiosperm that most people would call a hardwood. Balsa is a hardwood, but its wood is so soft and lightweight that it’s most commonly used for making model airplanes.
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Which is better Douglas fir or hemlock?
Fir is usually more desirable than hemlock for timber because it's lighter and tends to grow taller. However, hemlock is more resistant to insects and disease, and will not rot as quickly as fir.
How can you tell hemlock from Doug-fir?
Doug firs do tend to have a more pointed tip than true firs, also new buds are very pointy. Hemlocks tend to have droopy new foliage, especially leader growth.
How do I identify a hemlock?
Poison-hemlock stems have reddish or purple spots and streaks, are not hairy, and are hollow. Leaves are bright green, fern-like, finely divided, toothed on edges and have a strong musty odor when crushed. Flowers are tiny, white and arranged in small, umbrella-shaped clusters on ends of branched stems.
How can you tell if wood is hemlock?
The heartwood of eastern hemlock is pale brown with a reddish hue. The sapwood is not distinctly different in coloration, but may appear lighter. The wood is coarse and uneven in texture.
What does the bark of a hemlock tree look like?
A hemlock tree is identifiable by its smooth gray bark that becomes scaly and flakes off to reveal reddish-brown inner bark. As hemlock trees mature, the bark becomes a characteristic dark brown with flat plates divided by thick ridges.
Is hemlock good for?
Hemlock is a good building material because it is light and strong. It is widely used for framings and sub-floors, as well as for roofing and sheathing. It can also be used for indoor features like shutters, banisters, and stairs. Hemlock is a softwood common in North America.
In what states do you find poison hemlock?
Habitat and Ecology Native to Europe, western Asia, and North America, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is now naturalized in almost every state in the United States. It was introduced in the 1800s as a garden plant, marketed as being a “winter fern”.
How do I get rid of poison hemlock in my yard?
An herbicide containing a 41% or higher concentration of glyphosate should be used, and it should be mixed to a 2% product spray solution. Glyphosate will kill grass and other vegetation so care should be taken if used around desired vegetation.
Is hemlock a spruce or pine?
Pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock (and several others) are all conifers in the botanical family Pinaceae. Each of these trees are, technically, in the pine family and this may be why many people see an evergreen tree and call it a pine.
What is the most rot resistant wood?
Here are the 10 of the best woods that do not rot:Cedar.Redwood.Mesquite.Mahogany.Yew.Bald Cypress.Black Walnut.White Oak.More items...•
Can you burn hemlock in a wood stove?
With a decent BTU rating and the option to use hemlock as both a campfire wood or inside your wood stove, adding some of the firewood to your wood rack is not a waste of time.
Is hemlock wood good for outdoor use?
It's popular both for indoor and outdoor projects thanks to its ability to hold paint and glue very well and deter pests because of its natural smells. It is resistant to shrinkage and can have a longer lifespan because it's less prone to splinting or even cracking.
What can be mistaken for hemlock?
There are many plants that look similar to poison hemlock including fennel, chervil, anise, coltsfoot and wild carrot. The most distinctive feature of poison hemlock is that the entire plant is hairless.
How can you tell the difference between a water hemlock and a poison hemlock?
Poison hemlock is a much larger plant than wild carrot. Water hemlock has a spotted stem like poison hemlock, but is a perennial that produces a cluster of fleshy tubers at crown, and the leaflets are not finely divided like poison hemlock.
What looks like poison hemlock but isn t?
The flowers of cow parsnip are similar to poison hemlock, but much larger, and same goes for the leaves. It can also closely resemble water hemlock, so be absolutely certain of your identification.
How do you tell the difference between hemlock and balsam fir?
Twigs are alternate on Hemlock versus opposite on Fir. Bark – Hemlock bark is brown, cinnamon brown or even purple brown at maturity, vertically oriented in plates or furrows and similar to mature White Pine bark. Balsam Fir bark is grey, somewhat smooth often with raised blisters that when pressed will express resin.
What is the difference between D fir and hemlock?
Another feature to look at are the buds - D fir are much longer than Hw/Hm and pointed.....the buds on hemlock are small and round....and the pattern of leaves of hemlock is informal and have different lengths.
What color are needles?
Needles are uniform in size, glossy, and yellow-green to deep bluish-green. They cover the branches densely on all sides or may be mostly upturned.
How big are the leaves of a wiki?
FYI- WIKI = The leaves are needle-like, 5–23 mm long and 1.5–2 mm broad, strongly flattened in cross-section, with a finely serrated margin and a bluntly acute apex. They are mid to dark green above; the underside has two distinctive white bands of stomata with only a narrow green midrib between the bands. They are arranged spirally on the shoots but are twisted at the base to lie in two ranks on either side of the shoot.
Is Douglas Fir a true fir?
Yes but Douglas firs are not true firs. Is there anyone that can chime in on my dilemma? The big reason is because I'm trying to figure out which type of soil I will use for what I thought top be Douglas fir seedlings
Do hemlocks like organic soil?
For my hemlocks (mountain) I use more organics than I would for Doug Fir as they like a well drained soil.
Is there a difference in the pointyness of Doug fir needles?
Another pic from a different Doug fir. There actually can be a fair bit of variation in the degree of pointyness of the needles.
Is Hemi organic?
In regards to your hemi's being in 100% organic material..... I'd be careful as you need to make sure you don't overwater as this might bring on root rot.
What is the difference between a hemlock tree and a fir tree?
Fir tree needles are normally longer than those of a hemlock tree. Fir trees – nine types grow wild in North America – belong to the genus Abies, while the four North American hemlock species are part of the Tsuga genus. Firs and hemlocks differ in size, foliage and preferred growing conditions; both come in parent form ...
How tall does a hemlock tree get?
Many fir species, such as white fir (Abies concolor) and noble fir (Abies procera), commonly grow between 100 and 150 feet tall.
What is the foliage of a fir tree?
The evergreen foliage of fir trees differs from that of hemlocks. Hemlocks feature a narrow, flat, evergreen needle that tapers at its base to form a tiny stem, attaching to the twigs on what resembles a woody cushion. The needles on a fir tree appear plump or flat in a cross-section view. They grow right out of the twigs ...
How long are fir needles?
Hemlock needles normally do not exceed an inch in length, while the needles on firs, like the white fir, develop to 3 inches in length. Advertisement.
How big do fir cones get?
Fir tree cones come in a wide array of sizes. Those of the California red fir (Abies magnifica) may grow to as long as 9 inches, while some firs – including balsam fir (Abies balsamea) – produce a cone as small as 2 inches long.
How long is a hemlock cone?
Hemlock cones are small, with only the mountain hemlock generating a cone as long as 3 inches. Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) has a cone that is less than an inch long.
Where do fir trees grow?
Geographically, most of the firs grow in the western portion of North America, with only the balsam fir and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) native to eastern regions. Canadian hemlock and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) grow in the East, while mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and western hemlock exist in the Northwest. Advertisement.
What are the stalks on a Douglas Fir tree called?
Douglas fir Leaf Stalks. Creative Commons/Bugwood.org. There are several conifers that have needles that are flattened and attached to the twig with leaf stalks — which are also called petioles by some botanists. These slender stems support and attach the larger single needle to the branch.
What are the attachments on spruce and fir?
Spruce and fir have their needles attached individually to the branches using different attachments called pegs, suction cups, and stalks, which are never bundled. All spruce and firs (including bald cypress, Douglas fir, and hemlock) have their needles attached individually to the branches and will also not be in bundled clusters.
What type of tree has single needles?
So, if your tree does have single needles that are directly and singly attached to the twig, you will often likely either have a fir tree or a spruce tree. These twig attachments will be in the form of wooden pegs for spruce and in the form of direct cups for fir.
What are fir needles?
Fir needles are typically short and mostly soft with blunt tips. The cones are cylindrical and upright and the shape is very narrow with rigid, upright, or horizontal branching as opposed to "drooping" branches on some spruce trees. Fir tree needles are soft and flat and are affixed to the twig with attachments that resemble suction cups instead ...
How to identify fir tree needles?
When you are trying to identify fir trees, look for erect and upturned cones growing off branches.
What are the four sided lines on a spruce tree?
Identifying the Major Spruces. All spruce trees have sharp-pointed needles that are often 4-sided or diamond-shaped in cross-section and have four whitish striped lines. These needles are attached to the twig with wooden pegs called a pulvinus, which can also be referred to as a sterigmatum.
How many needles are in a bunch of pine trees?
Conservation. On true pine trees and larches, needles are arranged and attached to the branches in bundles or clusters with two, three, or five needles per bunch, however, the needles of other conifers including spruce, fir, and hemlock trees are not grouped in these clusters and thus they can only be identified by other traits of the needles, ...
What is the difference between hemlock and fir?
Needles are spirally arranged on the twigs and attached to them via raised, rounded pegs. Fir has longer (3 inches on average) and more flat needles compared with hemlock.
Where do hemlock and fir trees grow?
Out of 10 known species of hemlock, four can be found in North America, while others grow in Asia. Fir grows on the sunny spots in the mountains with mild or cool humid climate. Hemlock grows in cool and moist climates, in areas that have cool summers and plenty of rainfalls. Unlike other conifers, hemlock tolerates shade. Even though fir and hemlock are members of the same family, they can be easily differentiated thanks to the following features:
How long are hemlock cones?
Hemlock produces small ovoid, roundish or ellipsoid cones that are usually 1 to 3 inches long. Unlike cones of fir, they hang from the branches. Hemlock discards its cones as soon as they release seed.
What is hemlock used for?
Application. Both hemlock and fir are cultivated in the form of windbreaks, screens, hedges and in ornamental purposes. Wood of fir is used for the manufacture of plywood. It is not used in timber industry because it has low resistance to insects and it decays easily.
What color are fir needles?
Some species of fir have greenish-grey, bluish-green or silver needles. They are attached to the twigs directly (base of a needle looks like a small suction cup). Twigs of fir have visible depressions that remain after removal of needles.
How tall is hemlock?
Size. Hemlock is usually smaller than fir, with few exceptions. It can reach 33 to 197 feet in height (50 to 100 on average), while fir can reach height of 32 to 262 feet (100 to 150 on average).
Is hemlock a conifer?
Hemlock grows in cool and moist climates, in areas that have cool summers and plenty of rainfalls. Unlike other conifers, hemlock tolerates shade. Even though fir and hemlock are members of the same family, they can be easily differentiated thanks to the following features:
When evaluating DF timbers for reclaimation in old, open barns and warehouses built before 1950?
When evaluating DF timbers for reclaimation in old, open barns and warehouses built before 1950, I don't bother to clean off anything. I merely hit sample boards and beams with either a 2lb or 6lb hammer. If they break, they are hemlock. If they ring true, they are DF. Hemlock doesn't even have to get wet from rainfall to eventually rot in this climate.
Is hemlock harder than fir?
Hemlock grain would be finer/ tighter looking in both the mixed and vertical grains. Fir might be a little harder but not a whole lot, at least until it was 20 years old then older Fir tends to get pretty hard , as in hard to nail into / tougher.
Wood Selector
Simpson offers a broad range of wood species, each with its own distinctive character. Some of our most popular species are shown here. If you have a different type of wood in mind, contact your Simpson dealer for pricing and availability.
Douglas Fir
The Simpson name has been synonymous with fir doors since the beginning. Tight, vertical grain and warm coloring give our douglas fir doors an enduring appeal.
What is hem fir?
Hem-Fir. Hem fir is basically the combination of Western Hemlock and the true firs. The most stand-out feature about this species is its high versatility; it is very multi-purpose and usable in several framing applications. Compared to other species, Hem-fir is lighter in both the color and the weight, but this does not make it any less stronger.
What is the best lumber for a home?
Douglas-fir, popularly known as Doug-fir, is undoubtedly the best and most common structural lumber. It is most architects’ and engineers’ go-to lumber species and this is not just because of its remarkable dimensional stability. It is also among the strongest and most durable softwood lumbers. The installation durability is also complemented by the high nail and plate-holding ability. Another remarkable quality about Doug is its high resistance to weather forces like storm, winds, and earthquakes. Lastly, this lumber species works best on residential, multi-story, light commercial and industrial construction.
What is sugar pine lumber?
Another common lumber species is Sugar Pine which is a Western Pine Lumber. This species has highly appealing aesthetic value, thanks to its creamy white sapwood and the light brown heartwood. It also has great dimensional stability and it is used for boxes, crates, joinery, paneling, and shelving. However, you need to be careful since Sugar Pine is very low on rot and insect resistance, and this might reduce its durability. It also limits it to furniture and indoor construction.
Is spruce a good lumber?
Popularly referred to as SPF, Spruce easily falls among the top lumber species. Not only is it remarkably lightweight, but it is also easily available as well as affordable. Its lightweight gives it an edge over its competitor species, making it one of the most preferred house-walls lumber.
What is the most common hemlock?
Fir is the most common, with hemlock a close second. Both are available in a variety of sizes and shades. In general, bark dust that has recently been processed is light brown or orange and fairly coarse. Older product is finer and dark brown or black. Fine Dark Hemlock.
What is the difference between compost and bark dust?
What is the difference between compost and bark dust? Compost is a mix of decomposing organics, which can include leaves and food waste. Bark dust is only wood waste. As a result it will last much longer in the landscape.
What is bark dust?
Bark dust. It's nothing more than pieces of bark and wood that have been run through a grinder. Simply spreading it over the open spaces in your beds will make them look fresh and finished.
How many square feet does bark dust cover?
At 2" thick you get 1100 square feet from 1 unit of bark dust. At 3" thick one unit will cover 750 square feet.
Where to use bark dust?
Use bark dust in landscape beds and compost in garden beds, where you plant vegetables.
Can you pick up bark dust?
If you have a truck you can pick up your own, but having bark dust delivered is usually easier. If you don't want to spread bark dust yourself consider having it blown. Redbark, Bark Dusters, and Bark Blowers all provide this service.
Does dark fir prevent weeds?
Fine Dark Fir in Forest Heights. Will my bark dust prevent weeds. Yes, sort of. And then no.... For 4-6 weeks you will get some weed suppression from bark dust in your landscaped beds. Sun is prevented from hitting bare soil, which helps. Also, the Ph of your soil is affected.
