Learning About Softwood Trees

Lebanon Cedar Tree

We’re fortunate to live surrounded by trees. They grace our lives with their beauty and remind us of the passing of the seasons. Today we'll focus on learning about softwood trees in our area.

What is a softwood tree
Softwood trees differ from hardwoods in that they possess an abundance of needles. Unlike leafy trees, conifers are evergreens in that they don’t become dormant over the winter.

Common softwood trees are 

• Cedar
• Pine
• Fir
• Hemlock

Softwood has many uses
The word softwood doesn’t mean that the wood isn’t sturdy. To the contrary, conifer is a terrific choice in construction and is typically used in building (1) porches, (2) staircases, (3) closets, (4) furniture, (5) house framing and (6) fences. Cedar, for example, is a popular choice in outdoor areas since it resists rot. With proper care, something made out of softwood will last many years.

One of the primary reasons that softwoods, such as pine and cedar, find their way into so many woodworking projects is that they are a more cost-effective choice than most hardwoods. You can usually purchase softwood lumber for less than the same amount of oak because softwoods grow more quickly and weigh less.

Softwood as firewood
Are you looking for inexpensive fuel for occasional use in your fireplace and wood stove? Conifers are less expensive, and you’ll find that it is easier to start your firewood on fire if you’re burning something like fir and cedar instead of hardwood.

Experts don’t recommend that you regularly burn a softwood in your fireplace as it can lead to an increase of creosote inside the chimney. Creosote buildup can cause dangerous, uncontrolled fires within the stack that can result in a house fire. Safeguard your home and family from fire by keeping your softwood burns to a minimum and sticking to a routine fireplace maintenance schedule.

Lastly, conifers bring green beauty to your yard on even the most wintry days of the year. Along with bringing significant aesthetic enjoyment to our lives, these hardy trees grow fast and fit into almost any type of landscape in the Buffalo-Niagara metropolitan area.

The professionals at Buffalo Stump Removal know how to safely and affordably remove softwood stumps all over Buffalo. Contact us for a stump removal cost estimate that will make you want to go out and buy another tree today.

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