What is the Difference Between Hardwood & Softwood?

I have noticed there are a lot of people who are confused about the difference between hardwood and softwood. It may seem like a simple concept. Hardwoods are hard and softwoods are soft. But it doesn’t quite work that way. Some hardwoods are softer than some softwoods. Some softwoods are harder than some hardwoods. The difference between hardwoods and softwoods is more about the cellular structure of the wood and the type of trees they come from. It’s not always an indicator of whether wood is hard or soft. I will try to show you the simple way to know if a wood is hardwood or softwood.
You can support the channel through Patreon at / wilsonforestlands
Items I Use
USA Made Smart Wool Socks
www.camelcitymill.com/WILSONF...
TopTes Moisture Meter
amzn.to/3QHnURv
You can apply the discount code 59ORXNSE to get 10% off.
Chainsaw Files for Square Filing
amzn.to/3uMjeSg
Spencer Log Tape
amzn.to/431roD2
RODE Wireless Go II Microphone
amzn.to/3OZ8HKb
RODE Lavalier Mic
amzn.to/3OTBeRC
If you buy anything through these links, I will receive a small commission.

[@colinswainson9882]

Lucky you didn’t damage your wood splitter when you hit it with your hand ,Chuck Norris of the forest . Great informative video thank you

[@WilsonForestLands]

Fortunately I only lightly grazed it. I didn’t try using it after that. I should start it up and make sure it still works.

[@colinswainson9882]

😂

[@FrankWilliams-zs6vh]

As a card-holding keyboard warrior, I want to disagree - not because your information is wrong, but because I am old and cantankerous, and it is my Internet-given right to be disagreeable. I usually explain hardwood vs softwood to kids and other people who ask as deciduous vs Evergreen because if I use the word Janka I either get slapped, or at least an eye-roll. Keep up the good work and I will do my job to monitor your videos for accuracy and completeness, or just because they make me☺.

[@HubertofLiege]

You’re just lucky you didn’t misspell anything, or I would’ve immediately corrected you. I’m reading.

[@robdavis8307]

I believe it's "Jenga". It's a wood product. 😂😂

[@russellruybal8855]

Great video I truly enjoy your knowledge, I can't argue because I don't know. I've been learning a lot about wood and trees watching your KZbin videos. You are a great guy, I truly appreciate the time you take to show us all of what is needed to manage a forest. Keep up your hard work... Stay safe, and why don't you ever say TIMBER..LOL from a viewer who lives in the flat lands of Nebraska

[@josephnebeker7976]

The only problem with that is not all hardwoods are deciduous and not to all softwoods are evergreen.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Very true Joseph. That’s why I will probably do a video about the difference between evergreen and deciduous. It’s not what a lot of people think it is.

[@cheezcakep]

Thank you for the educational content Mr. Wilson! 8 minute video did a better job describing timber than anything I’ve ever read, seen, or been taught in a classroom

[@bosse641]

Birch is my favorite tree for its looks and for firewood. ...that is what we used in Norway growing up. Its bark we used as firestarter. Pine is what we used for houses. A lot of the interiors I saw was pine. Beautiful rustic.

[@beerbuzz62]

Educational and hilarious at the same time.Thanks and keep em coming

[@RipRoarLB]

Of the internet or KZbin "logging" videos, I am constantly amazed with your level of knowledge. You spit the information out without even having to think. The information is second nature. All other channels, the operators are constantly guessing, their level of knowledge is basic compared to yours. One of the reasons I watch your channel is because I am almost guaranteed to learn something each time. I appreciate your level of knowledge, willingness to share, the humor and the great camera work.

[@Luke-sq6xo]

A thorough and concise presentation/explanation, no fluff, all business. Just how I like it. One of your recent videos came across my feed recently and the thumbnail and description caught my eye. I have since subscribed and delved into your oler videos. Having been born and raised in Northern California(Humboldt County, 1973), and worked many different facets of the timber industry, I had more than a few questions about more than a few of your videos. First things first, hat's off to what you're doing and how you're doing it. Your practices and advice are solid. Aside from what are probably just first learned and now old habits of mine I can't find a flaw in

[@WilsonForestLands]

I am very familiar with Humboldt County. Thank you for the comment. I try to answer the questions I get in the comments. I have been getting so many comments recently sometimes I miss some of the questions. Thank you for your comment and kind words.

[@birddogfarms6981]

My friends at @Black Oak property maintenance probably really appreciate your free advertising. Great choice of samples from the Red Oak family.

[@blackoakpropertymaintenanc6981]

Hey Wilson, thanks for the shout out! Go Black Oak....a really hard wood for a hard working man!

[@VegasEdo]

Most will agree aspen or poplar don't make great firewood but will still argue those are better than any pine or fir just because of the softwood designation. Just can't win in the logic game sometimes.

[@Bearwithme560]

We're surrounded by aspen poplar so naturally we don't waste it, and I'm not sure why it's disliked. I thought the creosote build-up in chimneys from softwood was a problem, which we don't get with poplar, though it's very ashy. For a fire that lasts overnight, l place a thick log of birch, which lasts much longer, but aspen makes for a quick start. So yes, l'm often 'stumped' by the logic as well.

[@Arrtists]

Very educational. I live in northern Wisconsin, in the woods. Trees are our neighbors and the also protect us

[@scottperine8027]

Keep passing along your thoughts and knowledge,I enjoy your vocabulary and wit.

[@blingbling574]

The school district here in Canada is big into educating on all woodland stuff. Learned a lot but never really used it. I went into the engineering profession instead. My ministry even has bear defence training every two years.

[@garysnyder6020]

I think you could educate most forest Rangers. Wish my log splitter had a wedge that big.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Reminds me of my neighbors when I was little, They were the O'Sperms from Ireland. They had two children; Jim and Angie. Small world.

[@vintagemotorcyclerepair4052]

Jim N O'Sperm?

[@WilsonForestLands]

If they both became botanists, that would be quite the story.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

In the area where I live they can get married..........if she's cute.

[@charlesreid2141]

Ok, I finally figured it out. You remind me so much of John Henry Lienhard Professor Emeritus of mechanical engineering and history at The University of Houston. He created the radio program The Engines of Our Ingenuity and his style and extensive knowledge is very similar to your videos. If you haven't ever heard one of his 5 minute talks I would highly recommend it

[@CoasterTeamIdaho-Utah-Montana]

great video man, thank you for the great information

[@wa791st]

6:25 "Some people are going to want to argue" Well now I want to argue.

[@glendagoodrich31]

Cool. I definitely learned something! Thank you!

[@wildweeds]

I burn mostly pinyon, almond, and fir. Although pinyon is a softwood, it is supposed to burn hotter than most other types of wood. The manzanita around here are just little bushes.

[@jonrosenlund5312]

Thai was fantastic. You made it simple. Thank you!

[@davidj.leavitt249]

Great video, thank you. Lumber Capital Logyard, a KZbinr out of central Pennsylvania, calls and sells Hemlock as a hardwood. Interesting aside, trees, plants, etc that are wind pollinated are the oldest species. Bug and insect pollination came much later.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I am familiar with Lumber Capital Logyard. I have heard them say a few things like that. I decided not to mansplain it to them though.

[@HardRockVermont]

Great educational piece! It is important to know the species in your area for select cut, especially on private land where you don't have a Forester marking trees for you.

[@paddymac4545]

You are really finding your stride! Keep up the great content!

[@KevinsDisobedience]

That’s right. Hardwoods are defined by the hard seed coating. That’s why balsa is considered a hardwood.

[@mitchellgarcia3532]

this is a good video, thank you sir!

[@wrightwoodwork]

Perfect and all correct and things I have forgotten but know

[@r.a.acosta6528]

Stumbled on this channel yesterday and it's been greatly informative watching these videos. Really enjoy the slight touches of humor and simplicity of the presentation.

[@kevinloonam2567]

Thank you for a brilliant lesson 👌👍👍

[@user-scooter1965]

Very informative video. Great job explaining all of the different types trees and wood. You are truly " The Wood Whisperer ".

[@terrahillfarm]

So glad I happened along your channel and subscribed. You sir, are a fantastic teacher. Learned more about wood in 3 minutes than I have in 30 years! 👍😄💡

[@Renegator1]

Very interesting! Thanks

[@fadetounforgiven]

Really educational and to the point. I've watched some other videos on the subject and I think this is the most comprehensive of them all without getting way too technical and nerdy about it. That being said, I guess madrones have something to do with "madroños" ("ñ" is pronounced like the French "gn"), in fact the first is Arbutus menziesii and the second one is Arbutus unedo, which may have nothing to do with each other, but both common names and scientific names are quite alike. The madroño tree grows in Europe and, although the name might suggest some relationship, it's one of the official symbols of Madrid (Spain), but the etimology for both names come from different places.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for the comment. I am not familiar with unedo but I just looked it up and I can see some similarities. I suspect you may be right about there being some relation.

[@keithwhittington1322]

Live and learn. Thanks.

[@timmyfields6159]

I started getting dizzy as you explained all that 🤣

[@clifbrewster8822]

Smoke is coming from my ears but I do believe I just learned something today thanks man ,!

[@WilsonForestLands]

Hopefully it’s hardwood smoke. It typically has the smoke flavor. 😁

[@kfoxworth3]

Hardwood have short fat fibers. Soft wood have long skinny fibers. Making paper we use both so each has its strong qualities.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I am not real familiar with the paper industry but that is a good interesting fun fact.

[@josephnebeker7976]

Pretty darn excellent explanation.

[@davewmck]

Fascinating!

[@edwinlikeshistractor8521]

Beautifully done. That is big manzinita.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Around here that one is a medium size one.

[@user-it4wo3gf3y]

I just wanted to make a suggestion to you on your Saw Mill. If you remove the deflector for your sawdust I don't think that you will have to be shoveling as much. Saving you some time.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I have had a few people tell me that. I always figured I’m eventually going to have to move the sawdust anyway and it would just prolong the inevitable. But maybe I should try it. You all may be onto something.

[@paulmaryon9088]

A great video thank you, greetings from the UK

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for watching from the UK.

[@benjaminbrown1179]

That was just great!

[@fastbusiness]

I can tell hardwoods by its leaves, softwoods by its needles, and dogwood by its bark. 🐈 😂

[@WilsonForestLands]

Well played. 😂

[@InTheWoodyard]

YES Yes and yes...you nailed it...amen!

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

And at the end of the day, it all burns 😉👍

[@russellruybal8855]

Thanks!

[@WilsonForestLands]

I just noticed your super thanks. Thank you very much! I really appreciate that. That was very generous of you!

[@MrHern2430]

Gotta watch the fruits of those Ginko's when they drop. Step on one, and you'll swear you steppend in some dog poo. Thanks for the edumication Mr. Wilson. Just one of the plethora of reasons I keep watching your videos!

[@chaswarren7239]

As always great video - informative & amusing. \going back a few decades I thought Hardwood was hard, then I realised that hardwood was deciduos and softwood evergreen, but then there is the larch, and what about Holly ?

[@WilsonForestLands]

I think that’s why I need to do a video about the difference between deciduous and evergreen. Evergreen is any tree that does not lose its leaves over the winter. Deciduous means trees that lose their leaves during the winter. There are conifers that are deciduous. There are broadleaf trees that are evergreen.

[@NicholasproclaimerofMessiah]

Hard woods are hard, and soft woods are soft; that says nothing of hardwoods and softwoods though. Good video.

[@edwardenglish6919]

Thanks for the video. What are your choices for friction fire hearth boards and drill shafts?

[@WilsonForestLands]

You stumped the chump on that one. I have no experience with hearth boards or drill shafts.

[@tmccusk1]

Awesome 😎

[@MrRLH93]

Hardwood or softwood it all burns and heats better than snowballs when it’s cold outside.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I definitely can’t argue with that. 😂

[@kdegraa]

All I know is the trees on my place are almost all eucalyptus trees of various varieties. They are all hard and the wood is very dense and heavy.

[@Twobrothersoutdoors]

Well Mike, I learned something today. I had to look up balsa tree. Since we have balsam fir trees here, I always assumed the balsa tree was a fir tree. Not that I doubted what you said, but I had no idea balsa was a broad leaf tree🤷 We have a conifer tree here commonly called tamarack, or American larch. American larch, is a deciduous conifer. It loses it's needles every fall and looks deader than disco. 🌲🌳 Just for clarification, is a palm tree hardwood or soft wood?

[@WilsonForestLands]

Yeah balsam fir and balsa are two very different trees. Palm doesn’t fit into either category of what we call hardwood or softwood. It is a monocot more similar to bamboo and grasses. We have western larch in the western US. Larch is considered to be a deciduous conifer. Deciduous meaning any tree that loses its leaves. Dawn Redwood is another deciduous conifer. I probably need to do another video about the difference between conifer, deciduous, broadleaf, evergreen, etc.

[@BobE.Dancho]

Good

[@patrickstar3066]

I have 150 acres of land and I can cut all the wood I want but it’s mostly pine wood it smells so good when I cut it i got 100 cords of wood right now and im going for 150 cords for the next winter I got sycamore wood pine cedar and berch and some apple

[@lzep4]

Here in Australia many angiosperms have needle like leaves, e.g. casuarina and melaleuca (but hey, we also have egg laying mammals, so we like to mess with biological categories downunder!). The key distinction between softwoods and hardwoods is between cone-bearing gymnosperms vs floweing angiosperms.

[@brettwatty101]

Wow never knew that.

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

You know I must say you make some really fascinating tree videos have you considered doing one on the various species of trees? Seems like a topic you would have interest in. And the irony of Balsa wood being hardwood and the Ginko acting like a Flowering plant when it's actually gymnosperm is proof nature is the best comedian.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for the comment. I do plan on doing some videos about different tree species. I haven’t been super motivated to do it since those type of videos haven’t had a lot of views in the past. but it’s on my to do list. You are right, nature is quite the comedian.

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

@@WilsonForestLands I had no idea those types of videos didn't do well that's a shame

[@DerekBlais]

I prefer to say deciduous (or broadleaf) vs. conifer (or evergreen).

[@SUF-py4ix]

Nice but how is the application of each decided or is that just years of trial and error

[@arnoldpraesent174]

correct...

[@Luke-sq6xo]

Obviously not a keyboard warrior, tried backspacing and hit send. To my point, I was watching some of your videos that included using your splitter(had a couple questions about that as well), and wanted to know how you were comfortable with that kind of piston speed while splitting say, Madrone or Live Oak? I've had those rounds jump 10' out of the splitter sometimes when they finally pop. Just a bit of curiosity from a fellow woodsman. Thanks and have a great day.

[@WilsonForestLands]

The piston speed is good for most things I do. I don’t run the engine at full speed most of the time. I know what you are talking about with wood like madrone popping open. When I have the kind of wood that’s likely to do that, I stand off to the side in front of the control lever instead of in the path of the possible flying wood. Some of those flying chunks can really hurt.

[@jackdawg4579]

That myth about hardwoods being deciduous is pretty wide spread on the good 'ol interweb. I come from Australia, trust me, our hardwoods are not deciduous!

[@westcoaster3763]

What are all fantastic attachments on your wood splitter? That might be an idea for some content maybe.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I think it was about a year and a half ago when I did the videos about this wood splitter. I may need to do more for new viewers.

[@westcoaster3763]

@@WilsonForestLands maybe I better look for it

[@joeyrector1015]

That's like here where I live. We have popular. It's considered as a hard wood. But it's softer than oak and hickory and other hardwood.

[@stevek5988]

It's poplar not popular.

[@mikehughes2026]

Michael, do tell us more about this Ginko- of which you speak.! Wonder if you kept a count of how many times you said Wood?Over-under is 62

[@WilsonForestLands]

I didn’t keep track of it. But I know if somebody was playing the drinking game to it, not sure they would ever wake up after they passed out.

[@andysmith8544]

Marcescence !

[@raynic1173]

First hike with the Cup Scouts, 8 yrs. old....how to tell what are poisonous plants, like poison Oak...Second half of the walk, how to tell soft woods from hardwoods...

[@Bushman9]

Grandpa told me when I was a teenager, the way to tell if a wood was hard or soft was to bang it on your forehead. Can’t wait til I have grandkids.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Sounds like something one of my grandfathers would say. 😁

[@russellruybal8855]

"AWESOME " Can't argue with you, cause you're the teacher and I'm the student. Don't want detention... Be safe. P.S. why don't you ever say TIMBER when the tree's falling to the ground. LOL

[@stevek5988]

Why say TIMBER, that's a product, shouldn't you be yelling TREEEEEEEEEE.😂

[@WilsonForestLands]

I never thought of it that way Steve. But you may be onto something there. 😂 I have never heard any logger out in the woods yell timber. I am suspicious that is a relic of the past that has been kept alive through popular culture. Just like the term lumberjack.

[@russellruybal8855]

True, that's why I'm just the student....

[@springhollerfarm8668]

Good to know... here's a question. My moisture meter has a setting for hardwood and one for softwood. When testing a softwood that is hard, such as eastern red cedar, which setting will give me a more accurate reading. (I have tried using both settings and the answer differs by about 10%, so it matters.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I think you successfully stumped the chump with that question. Last fall I made a video about moisture meters. In that video I claimed to be a moisture meter ignoramus, as I only recently started using one. My moisture meter has a table of wood species with the setting to use. But it doesn’t have eastern red cedar. I just did a search on Google and it looks like some manufacturers are saying to put it on the same setting as a lot of other softwood. I see some moisture meter manufacturers are posting their tables online. Maybe try a search for what to use with your specific meter. it’s a good question but that’s about all the answer I have.

[@springhollerfarm8668]

@@WilsonForestLands I also did some searching and you found more than I did. I know the setting makes a BIG difference with the cedar.

[@johnwhitacre7063]

I would like a video on your wood splitter.

[@springhollerfarm8668]

@@johnwhitacre7063 I have a few on my channel. Do you want to watch it split green elm (which is nearly impossible) big rounds of white oak, or just general splitting?

[@springhollerfarm8668]

@@johnwhitacre7063 Were you talking to me?

[@justing6594]

This is a goober question. I have some kinda pine tree that grows pine cones upside down. Is it a certain kinda tree?

[@WilsonForestLands]

Are you sure it’s a pine tree? Fir trees have cones that stand upright.

[@justing6594]

@@WilsonForestLands mabye it's a fur tree. I know it doesn't have leaves. Just pine branches. Thanks for the info. I will google fur trees and see if I can find anything simulator.

[@digger0429]

Didn't know that you split wood interesting splitter

[@WilsonForestLands]

I have videos in the past about splitting wood and about this splitter.

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

Part 2 possibility - Dramatic title, Why do you care if it is hard or softwood! Regular title - When to use softwood vs hardwood. Just a thought 🤔😁

[@WilsonForestLands]

If the views fizzle out on this one, it’s good to have some title options. 😁

[@aweoak7763]

@@WilsonForestLands For titles, take a look at “Words that sell” by Richard Bayan.

[@bwillan]

To add more confusion to this mud pie, hard and soft are subjective terms too. At least the janka scale use a science based method. The amount of force it takes to push a steel ball of a given size to a depth of half its diameter.

[@Wheelloader__]

YEP😁

[@Sethhaun78]

Some of the hardest wood here is hard maple..literally broke 2 teeth on stihlrs33 chain huge knots from my removals..after drying its unbelievable..one of the best btu in stove besides locust amd osage

[@Sethhaun78]

Defiantly differnt speices..there..

[@frontyardfirewood]

No matter what kind of tree it is, if you drop it on your toes while stocking the wood stove it hurts. Thus hardwood. 😂😂😂

[@stevek5988]

You stock, I stack. I also move my feet.

[@frontyardfirewood]

@@stevek5988 gotta be fast on your feet either way!

[@snowgorilla9789]

Watch out for youtube police/strike you said janka, something many are familiar with but has little to do with wood, wait a minute

[@stevek5988]

Whaaaaaatttt 🤯

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

Um, you missed a wood that may or may not be hard. But i won't go into it as i am sure you want the comments to be family-friendly.🤣

[@stevek5988]

If a tree falls in the woods, does your wife still complain about you not taking out the garbage. WHO CARES !!!!!!

[@WilsonForestLands]

While I was making this video I knew I was making a risk of things turning into a non family friendly situation with this subject. 😂

[@junkersish]

if I advertised aspen, willow and basswood as hardwood it would ruin my reputation

[@stevek5988]

TOO LATE.

[@ShanePhillips-mv7bi]

Hardwood burns longer to

[@stevek5988]

No kidding.

[@RoosterG33rs]

I have to ask are you and Paul Harris related? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3XGpIpof8uUh5osi=qtsPEUm3njnIP55g&t=30 You guys talk in the exact same manner and I love it.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Not that I know of. The only thing I know about him is someone else told me the same thing. I will have to take a look.

[@CatDaddySteve]

Don't matter. There's just excellent firewood like Madrone and Oak not so excellent firewood like Fir and Pine. There excellent dimensional lumber wood like Fir and wood not fit for dimensional lumber

[@stevek5988]

Tell that to the Spruce Goose.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I think it all depends on the use. What some people think is a lousy wood for one thing, others find it to be the best wood for other things. In some situations I like burning fir and pine for firewood. For other situations I prefer the hardwoods

[@geezerindawoods]

Easy Peasy! The know it alls will not research....🤣Press on!

[@croixbaio]

Is that White Oak not a Blue Oak? I’m from N. Ca. and familiar with all those trees. I thought that lighter tree was a White Oak. Can you verify.

[@WilsonForestLands]

We have Oregon white oak up here in Oregon. No blue oak here.

[@unionse7en]

ugh pet peeve of mine when "tradition" or "laymen" are in charge of semantics... lol , in a more perfect world we would just call them broadleaf or conifer... or just skip the entire attempt at categorizing that way as hard/soft wood is pretty useless for material classification ... we have to get more specific than hard/soft anyway to apply/know what we want .

[@stevek5988]

My pet peeve, people who can't take a joke or try to tell me how to live

[@eulerizeit]

MAN, If I had to no longer be loudly wrong I don't know if I could talk

[@stevek5988]

Shhhhhhhhh🤫

[@bohdanked]

I would like to argue but know nothing about the trees. sorry

[@stevek5988]

I consider most liberals like that, no brains but still argue.

[@vintagemotorcyclerepair4052]

I can hear the gloves coming off from here. ... 🕣