It’s common for most people to know the basics about trees. A more advanced term that a lot of people aren’t familiar with is opposite branching. There are two ways trees grow their branches, alternate or opposite. Being able to recognize what one your tree is doing can help you spot issues or concerns that happen with it. Our team at Five Star Tree Services is going to go over what opposite tree branching is.
Opposite Branching
Opposite branching is when side branches grow exactly opposite each other. Shrubs and trees can grow branches like this, although it is less common in trees. Typically, trees have alternate branching. This makes it easier to notice when a tree has opposite branching.
A few trees that naturally grow opposite branches include:
Maple Trees
There are over 100 different species of maple trees and they all have opposite branching. They can be found in several different countries. They are the easiest to notice opposite branching.
Dogwood Trees
These trees are very common for opposite branching. During the spring, these trees produce large, fragrant blooms. Some even grow small berries that can be blue, white, or red but are not edible.
Ash Trees
About 65 different species of ash trees are known to have opposite branching. You can easily spot them from the compound leaflets that grow on the branches.
There are more trees and shrubs that can have opposite branching. This can include burning bushes, winter creepers, and privets. You can also identify which trees will have opposite branching from them either having compound or simple leaves.
Alternate Branching
This is a very common type of growth, making it easier to notice on all other trees and shrubs. Some trees that have this branching include cottonwood trees, oak trees, and cherry trees. You can identify this growth from the staggered side branches that alternate in different directions on a branch.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Our team here at Five Star Tree Services offers Tree Care in Toronto. If this is something you are interested in, make sure to contact us today at (416) 990-3355!