Hackberry and a Baby Shagbark Hickory...really? NEED ID HELP?????

[ReggieT]

A friend of mine called me over and wants me to take down these 2 tree's for a little cash and all the wood...I'm still a novice @ this, but I think first 3 pics are of a Hackberry, but not positive.

The two other pics are a "baby shagbark hickory", my friend insist, but the color, bark are pretty different than any Shagbark I've ever seen, yet he prides himself on being a "Tree God" and comes unglued when ever he's challenged on anything outdoors...whatever!:msp_rolleyes:

Both tree's are about 25-30 ft and about 20-22 inch @ the base...should be worth the small fee he's paying and hopefully a cord of wood...he swears it'll be more like 4 cords!:msp_unsure:

As usual, I appreciate any and all feedback & help I can get on the ID's!:msp_thumbsup:

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ReggieT

 

[Mac88]

I can't help on the ID, but you should get 1-1/2 to 2 cords out of those two trees.

 

[trophyhunter]

Thats definitely a Hackberry, wait till you smell that when it comes down it sort of stinks but makes some nice firewood. Rough to split it though. I cant be certain the second one is a shag, it does look like it.

 

[wrench191]

Hackberry leaves

Hackberry leaves look like Elm.It must be kin to the Elm and you know how they are to split.

 

[zogger]

Hackberry--decent wood, I haven't had as much trouble splitting as some guys say, so perhaps I just lucked out.

Next, could very well be shagbark, looks mighty similar. They don't get real "shaggy" until much larger, then they get huge dinosaur scale bark. And much tougher to cut, lot of dirt gets stuck under the big chunks. It spits splinters when you cut it unless you bust all the big chunks of, and will shoot sparks off your chain sometimes, which is freaky cool.... Dulls chains quickly compared to cleaner woods, or it can, put it that way, real wildcard. Real good wood if you get it split and up drying pronto. Throws just a ton of heat, but you work for it.

Both trees worth grabbing, especially getting *paid* to get them! Excellent score! If you have the time to grab some of the smaller hickory branches, tote them home and let them dry until crispy and snap clean, they put oak and pine kindling splits to shame.

edit, forgot to add, this time of year should be a ton of hickory nuts under and around that second tree. Another good way to ID. Even if the squirrels are thick, should still be busted up shells all over.

 

[Nosmo]

Pictures #1 and #2

Pictures #1 and #2 certainly look like Hackberry to me. It is a hot and fast burning wood after it is seasoned.

I've never had any problems splitting it and I do have quite a bit of it on hand at this time which is stacked and seasoned.

I've never had any experience with the Shagbark Hickory.

Good luck working with them.
Nosmo

 

[arborealbuffoon]

The hackberry is a correct ID. They are in the elm family, but nowhere near as hard to split especially when green.

The second tree is almost definitely not a shagbark. Not sure exactly what it is. Looks like it is made of wood, and wood usually burns........

 

[blades]

second set of pics, could be Shag-bark or Silver maple. Look around under tree for chewed up shells if you find that then Hickory. At any rate once you make the first cut you will know pretty much right off, hickory scent is unmistakable.

 

[big cat]

I agree the first one is Hackberry, but the second I'm almost sure is not shagbark, looks like some variety of maple. I have alot of shagbark hickory in the woods and fence rows in my area, and by the time it's that big it has the distinctive bark, which this one doesn't.

 

[chadihman]

Second tree for sure looks like silver maple. Hickory is really dense and has a bad smell when it's fresh cut. Some say it smells like horse piss but my dad and grandpa allways said it smells like a sweaty horse. I don't work with horse so I'm not sure about it, but it has a strong smell.

 

[zogger]

I agree the first one is Hackberry, but the second I'm almost sure is not shagbark, looks like some variety of maple. I have alot of shagbark hickory in the woods and fence rows in my area, and by the time it's that big it has the distinctive bark, which this one doesn't.

Ya, I just thought similar looking, but not positive about it, that's why I added the thing about looking for the hickory nuts. Correctomundo, it should have bigger bark scales at that size/age.

 

[mr.finn]

Never seen a hackberry before. Second tree definately not hickory. Silver maple bark is usually more grayish/ silver than that. Bark looks reddish unless it is the lighting in the pic. Any more pics of the second tree?

 

[Stihl310]

Definetly not a shagbark, at least not like the ones on our farm. I've noticed the very young shags are almost smooth, then they begin to split as they age, then you will start noticing the "shaggy" bark. The big ones just get flat out crazy with scaly bark.

 

[stumpy75]

I still say that #5 is a southern pine, maybe slash...

 

[Mac88]

I still say that #5 is a southern pine, maybe slash...

It does sorta look like it. Hard to tell for sure with the lighting.

 

[apracticalman]

Reggie your hackberry may be a sugerberry tree.Native range of hackberry is pretty sparse in alabama. sugerberry much more common,similar trees.need more pics on second tree. ron

 

[Arbonaut]

1. Pukeberry
2. Wartwood
3. Bump Bark
4. Black Maple
5. River Birch

 

[unclemoustache]

he prides himself on being a "Tree God" and comes unglued when ever he's challenged on anything outdoors...whatever!:msp_rolleyes:

I'm more concerned about this guy than the tree ID (but I'd agree with the owner's assessment). If he comes unglued so easily, he might come apart altogether if you drop a tree too close to his house/shed/truck/lawn or whatever. If you're pretty new at this, make sure you can get this thing down safely and don't take any chances of damaging any property.

Keep us informed of the progress! Pics! Lots of pics!!

 

[wrench191]

The second tree looks like Hedge.

 

[CTYank]

Second tree is most definitely not a hickory, even if you allowed somebody to spray-paint it RED. C'mon.

Only trees with red bark I've ever seen, in the NE mind you, are pines. Those spiral ridges in the bark could be a give-away.

Hickory sparks because it's extremely dense and tough. How could it trap dirt in the bark deep in the woods? And ... freshly cut it smells GREAT. IMHO, of course.