Whether you had them planted yourself or not, you might have lost track of what types of trees you have on your property. Identifying trees in Ohio can be complicated if you don’t know what you’re looking at. But there are some different resources out there that can help answer the common question “what kind of tree do I have?”
This is important when it comes to giving your trees the best possible chance at good health. Every tree has its own specific challenges and needs to be met. You can’t properly care for your trees if you don’t know what you’re dealing with.
It will take a little bit of detective work, but you can definitely figure out what types of trees are growing on your property.
Here’s how you can be a tree detective in your own backyard.
How to Tell What Type of Tree You Have
There are many common tree types in Ohio and Northern Kentucky. This includes the Flowering Dogwood, Sycamore, various evergreens, and more.
Identifying trees in Ohio can be done by looking at distinguishing features like their leaves, bark, and flowers. Let’s look at how to identify trees by these parts and through various resources.
Ohio Tree Identification by Leaf
Leaves are one of the more reliable ways of identifying trees in Ohio because they are found on (or beneath) the tree year-round. Flowers and fruit only appear on a tree for a short period.
Today, there are apps available to help you with Ohio tree identification by leaf. Leafsnap, for instance, can provide you with access to a huge plant database and provide you with an ID based on a photo of the leaf in question.
Since you probably always have your phone on you, an app is one of the most convenient ways to identify a tree by its leaves. But there are also various pocket field guides out there with the same information.
Another resource that uses leaves to help people identify trees is the What Tree is That quiz available through The Arbor Day Foundation. This is a step-by-step quiz that will eventually help you to identify a tree in question.
Ohio Tree Identification by Bark
Another way to identify trees is by their bark. Many trees have unique tree bark characteristics. For instance, Beech Tree bark is light gray with a smooth surface while Oak Tree bark can be light gray to nearly black with deep ridges and a scale-like look. 
Bark identification can be useful in the winter when trees have lost their leaves. But you’ll need a guide or app to help.
Ohio Tree Identification by Flower
Flowers can also help play a role in identifying trees in Ohio. The color, shape, and petal pattern can also help you distinguish one type of tree from another.
Again, you’ll need either a field guide or a tree identification app to compare trees and determine what is growing on your property.
Sometimes looking at all three of these factors will help you make the proper identification.
Let Us Help You with Tree Identification in Ohio
If you are an Oasis Turf & Tree client, then we can also help you with identifying trees in Ohio and Kentucky.
In fact, we take great pride in making specific recommendations for your trees and shrubs, based on the specific species growing on your property. We want to be thought of as your go-to expert for tree and shrub care advice.
After all, we know that your ultimate goal in identifying trees in Ohio and Kentucky is that you want to care for them properly. We want to help with that goal.
The truth is, there are a lot of lawn care companies offering tree and shrub services that don’t really know the difference between one tree and another. However, because different trees have different needs based on species, this is a detriment to the best possible service.
It’s important to choose a lawn care company or tree service with experienced and licensed technicians who will take a customized approach to your property based on the types of trees that you have.
In addition, since your best defense against common tree problems (such as pests and disease) is good soil health, you also want to choose a company that focuses on this vital component of tree care. Find a company that aims to improve your soil health by providing the micronutrients that it really needs for your trees and shrubs to thrive.
By choosing a lawn and tree service that will ensure your trees are properly identified and get what they need to perform their best, you’ll be able to cast aside those nagging worries about protecting your landscape. Instead, you’ll feel confident that your trees are in good hands.
If you want to find out more about tree and shrub health care for your Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, or Northern Kentucky home, call us today at 513-697-9090 to get your quote, let us help you choose a stand-alone program or bundle it with other services, and then sit back and relax knowing your trees are truly in good hands.
Image Source: tree bark