Please help identify a tree in suburb of Chicago

Peggy S

Hi, I'm a homeowner looking for some expert advice. Unfortunately, my tree guy, Billy, is losing a battle with cancer right now. He is really knowledgeable and my kids always loved watching him swing in our trees like a monkey. We are going to miss him. I have three big Oak trees in my backyard and an unidentified tree next to them that I'm thinking about having cut down (for a few reasons). Depending on what type of wood it is, I may have it made into a fireplace mantel and hardwood flooring if it is worthwhile. (there is a place near Chicago that does this). Billy told me what the tree in question was, but I don't remember. The trunk is about 10 feet around and the tree is about 60 feet tall. I think it drops a lime green residue all over my deck in the spring, but maybe it's from the Oaks. It drops stringy brown things that are a few inches long, maybe every other year in the fall? It hasn't dropped any nuts in the 17 years I've lived here. The leaves are about 3-4 inches long. Can anyone tell me what kind of tree this is and how I can tell if it is worth turning into anything? I appreciate any info you have - Peggy

Attached Thumbnails

     

Brent Ferris

It looks like Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) by the bark and leaves. I have no idea what the "stringy brown things" would be, unless it is from insect webbings in the tree, or possibly curled leaves.

Black Cherry is normally considered a valuable tree for its wood, the grain and colour is highly valued. But you need to check if your local company will accept wood from urban areas. Many do not, because urban trees often contain metal, and they don't want to damage their equipment. Even if this is the case, there are often portable sawmills which may be able to help, and sometimes you can find someone with a chainsaw mill to cut the wood into slabs.

Then you need to dry the lumber - either kiln drying (faster), or air drying (at the rate of 1 inch thickness per year) before it can be made into something you want.

It seems to me, the bigger problem is getting the tree out of the backyard -- if access is tight (ie less than 4 ft wide) you will need to find someone with a chainsaw mill to come in and mill the lumber in the backyard.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

Peggy S

Hi Brent,
Thanks for responding! I think it does look like a Black Cherry and the leaves, branches and bark do look like what I pulled up online. But when I looked it up, it said it would have white flowers in the spring and produce cherries. I've never noticed flowers or cherries, but the soft brown things that fall off look similar in size and shape to the flowers/cherry strands. Is it possible that it doesn't actually produce the flowers or fruit and just drops bright green things in the spring and brown strands in the fall?
Fortunately, our yard does have access for equipment to get large pieces of wood out. I talked to a company at a Fest I was at that says they supervise the cutting down of the tree, haul it away and dry it out in a special way. If you don't want the wood, they said they will haul it away free of charge if it is a species that is desireable. I haven't found out the cost for them to make hardwood flooring yet, so I don't know if it's worthwhile. If they are really pricey, I may research cutting some of the tree to be made into a fireplace mantel for my home and try to just do that myself.
I was given a price of $500 to cut the tree down and $900 to cut and haul it away by one guy, and $700 to cut down and $900 to cut and haul it away by another. But he said it would be good for firewood if we wanted to keep it and give my husband a good workout splitting it!

Brent Ferris

It may be the "green things" are immature fruit .If you still have some, cut one open, and if it is mostly pit, then it is the fruit -- black cherry cherries never have much flesh on them, The brown stringy things many be the stems for the fruit, or something else. Having the fruit drop prematurely suggest a problem for the tree getting enough water, or a cold night precipitating early fruit drop.

I would try to get the tree assessed for quality of lumber -- generally black cherry is only used for firewood if it is of poor quality, or you don't know any better. It would look super as a floor. I would investigate that option with someone who cares about utilizing wood.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)