How do you tell the diff. between an oak and a maple tree?

Answer 1

Leaves are easy, man. See the first 2 links below and remember that the maple leaf is the symbol of Canada, while oak leaves show greater variation, depending upon which oak they are. The fun part is identifying without leaves!!

Maple: Leaf-scars opposite, narrow U or V-shaped; bundle-scars conspicuous, typically 3 together, equidistant, though sometimes each of these becomes compound; fruit winged, in pairs; usually small to large trees.

Oak: Bundle-scars numerous, scattered; pith regularly 5-pointed, star-shaped.

Of course, there are about 40 other steps in between that you have to take before you can identify that you have gone from Maple to Oak and not passed any other tree in between!

Check the third link below:

Answer 2

Good information about the leaves. The maple leaf is palmate.
Also, the trees are shaped differently-- the maple is faster growing and more rounded in shape-- can get really tall, fairly fast and the wood is considered "soft" in that it breaks in high winds and ice easier than a "hardwood" tree.
The Oak is a hardwood tree, shaped more like a fat triangle-- it is slow growing and strong. There are many varieties of oak as there are maple-- so if you are choosing which to plant on your property-- take a picture and/or maximum measurements of space-- including height-- to your local nursery.
I caution planting either on the back of your property as power lines are generally on the back and both trees will grow too high for those power lines.-- The power company then has pruners out to whack the tree away from the lines-- which then.... oops-- too much information!
Good luck

Answer 3

I'm not certain about the tree however the leafs are different. A maple tree has larger leafs just like the hockey teams logo Toronto Maple Leafs, oak leafs are smaller somewhat oval with a point at the tip

Answer 4

Wait for Autumn - Maple leaf show

There are almost 52 varieties of Maples are grown in Japan
Crimson Queen, Red Dragon from New Zealand, Ever Red, Viridis
Bloodgood” is the most popular red form of upright growing maples. Leaves are deep red to red-black and hold their color well into late summer.
15 to 18 foot tall and about 12 foot wide

Oak and Maple tree are totally diff.

Answer 5

By looking at the leaves. Maples will have points on the tips of their leaves. Look at the flag of Canada, it has a maple leaf on it. An oak leaf will have rounded tips. An oak leaf looks sort of like a hand with a whole bunch of little stubby fingers all around it.

Answer 6

You tell by the leaves.

On a maple the leaf will resemble a hand with fingers coming off of it, between 3 and 5.

oaks hav what is known as lobed leaves. The leaves are long with lobes coming off the sides, either pointed or rounded.

See links:

Maple - http://www.massmaple.org/treeID.html

Oak - http://www.state.sc.us/forest/tidlob.htm

Answer 7

It would help to know a little about trees.
The shape of the leaves is one clue.
Another clue is whether the tree has acorns (oaks ) or propeller shaped seed (maples).
There are many other differences but those are the easiest two.

Answer 8

The leaf shape is significantly different. Oak leaves also tend to turn red and brown in the fall, while maples will turn a bright yellow, red and orange.

Answer 9

The leaves...maple leaves are smaller than oak leaves

Answer 10

Oak trees have acorns