Dry sapwood?

[Tweegs]

Apologies for the thread title, closest thing I could come up with.

Had a rather interesting observation and follow up question from a coworker.
He hired someone to do some trimming on a few yard trees, one was a Maple.
The laborer was using a manually operated pole saw.
While cutting a few 6” diameter branches, half way through the cut the branch would snap, as though it were very brittle. The branch also appeared very dry.

The homeowner couldn’t identify the further than just a maple, but described the leaves as very large, turning yellow in the fall, then black just before they dropped.
He’s not sure about the bark.

The tree, according to the homeowner and laborer, appears healthy and vibrant but both were concerned by the lack of moisture in the branches.

The laborer is not an arborist, he cut the branches top down. No special cut, no attempt made to keep from damaging the trunk.
This calls into question his assessment of overall health of the tree and supposed “dryness”.

The homeowner is just that, a homeowner.
And I’m sure as heck no expert on tree health.
I take the homeowner at his word that the tree is leafing out well and has no obvious signs of distress.

Told him that the tree was probably fine, but I’d check with people that had a little more clout on such matters.
Also, I’m not sure now is the right time to be pruning trees and that he should look beyond the classifieds for a tree trimming service.

So what do you folks think?
Is the tree good or should I get him to answer a few more questions?

[maple flats]

need more info. Once the leaves are developed get a picture and a picture of the tree showing the bark. One that cones to mind in that it would break as described is a silver maple, and the leaves can be large but they don't generally turn black before dropping in the fall. There are others too, thus the pictures will help.

[Michael Greer]

Sounds like a Norway Maple to me. They are very brittle and frequently lose branches in a storm. They are not noted for their color in the fall, but people keep planting them.

[Tweegs]

I'll get him to snap a couple of pics.

[Tweegs]

A couple of pics.

Looks like a Norway to me, judging from the bark.
Said he couldn't get a pic of the leaves, too small yet.


bark of maple tree1.jpg
Crown of maple tree.jpg

[tcross]

I'm far from a tree expert, but the bark on that looks like an ash tree to me!? ash does tend to be dry wood!

[n8hutch]

I agree, does look like an Ash. Closer pic of the leaves?

[Ed R]

That's a Norway maple. If you break a leaf off the twig it will have white sap this time of year.

[Michael Greer]

Norway Maple is an invasive here in Potsdam. The tree nurseries keep selling them, and folks keep planting them, but they are a comparatively useless tree...too fragile in the wind, prone to splitting in extreme cold, and no contribution to the fall colors. Worst of all, they are super prolific and will grow a million seedlings under the fence, behind the garage, in the middle of a lilac, or on any spot that gets ignored. They burn well.

[n8hutch]

Norway Maple is an invasive here in Potsdam. The tree nurseries keep selling them, and folks keep planting them, but they are a comparatively useless tree...too fragile in the wind, prone to splitting in extreme cold, and no contribution to the fall colors. Worst of all, they are super prolific and will grow a million seedlings under the fence, behind the garage, in the middle of a lilac, or on any spot that gets ignored. They burn well.

Now that I think about it alot I have 1 Tree that looks alot like that ,that I tapped for 2 seasons and got Narry a drop of sap out of it. but I am relatively certain it's a Maple and a healthy one at that.