Telling The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood

Softwood is typically less expensive compared to hardwood.

Telling the difference between hardwood and softwood. Softwood has a faster rate of growth. Hardwood has a slower growth rate. Trees with seeds that are enclosed such as within a shell or fruit are categorized as hardwood. A wood will be classified as a hardwood if the seeds that the tree produces have a coating.

If your landscape consists primarily of softwood trees you won t have to worry about leaves blanketing your lawn and restricting your grass of sunlight. The primary difference between hardwood and softwood trees in a landscape is that hardwoods shed their leaves once a year whereas softwood trees retain their leaves throughout the year. A wood will be classified as a softwood if the seeds don t have any type of coating and are instead dropped to the ground and left to the elements. These coatings can either take the shape of a fruit or a shell.

In reality the technical distinction has to do with the reproductive biology of the species. The primary distinction between hardwood and softwood is based on the reproductive biology of the tree species. Softwoods tend to keep their needles throughout the year. Informally trees categorized as hardwoods are usually deciduous meaning they lose their leaves in the autumn.

More specifically the type of seeds produced by a tree determines whether it is hardwood or softwood. Hardwoods shed their leaves over a period of time in autumn and winter. Hardwood is typically more expensive than softwood. In contrast trees with seeds that are not enclosed are softwood.