What Are Softwood Trees?

Cyprus Cedar

Softwood refers to wood that comes from evergreen or coniferous tree. Softwoods are usually used as building materials.

Softwood lumber is used for many woodworking tasks since it’s durable and easy to handle. Softwood is used by numerous professionals such as cabinetmakers, woodcarvers, furniture makers, and carpenters. You can get softwood at your local tree care company.

The other class of wood is hardwood which comes from trees like maple, walnut, or hickory.

Softwood Characteristics

Some trees are softwood; some are hardwood. Is the wood of softwood trees tough and less dense than hardwood trees? Not really. Truthfully, some hardwood trees have softer wood than softwood trees. So, what are softwood trees? Read on to find out more regarding softwood characteristics and other pertinent information.

Softwood tree lumber is typically used to build decks, boats, stairwells, and houses. This signifies that a characteristic of softwood trees doesn’t include weakness. Instead, the classification of trees into softwood and hardwood is based on a genetic distinction.

Softwood tree information tells us that softwoods, referred to as gymnosperms, are conifers or needle-bearing trees. Softwood trees like cedars, cypresses, and pines, are typically evergreens. They don’t lose their needles in the autumn and go dormant in the wintertime.

Softwood Tree Info

The distinction between softwood and hardwood is revealed to some degree in the structure of the wood. Softwood trees usually have softer wood (hence the name) than hardwood tree types. Conifer wood possesses only a couple of various cell types. The wood of hardwood trees maintains fewer air spaces and more cell types.

Hardness can be identified as being a purpose of the wood’s density. Softwoods are denser than hardwood trees. The truth be told, there are several exceptions to this rule. Categorizing is to give you some idea about a tree’s density. Nothing is written in stone.

For instance, southern pines are categorized as softwoods and have softwood characteristics. Though, yellow poplar, a hardwood, is less dense. For a vivid example of a soft hardwood, consider balsa wood. It is so light and thin that it is used to construct model airplanes. The thing is, it comes from a hardwood tree.

If you need help determining the types of trees you have in your yard, contact Rochester Tree today.

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