There are several ways to identify a tree, including by its leaves, bark, fruit, and overall shape. Here are some steps you can take to identify a tree:

1. Look at the leaves: Leaves are one of the most obvious features of a tree and can be used to identify it. There are three basic leaf types: needles, scales, and broadleaf. Most evergreens have needles or scales, while most broadleaf trees are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves when dormant. However, there are exceptions. For example, larch has green needles that turn color in fall and drop off the tree, and live oak is an evergreen tree with broad, elliptical leaves.

2. Examine the bark: Bark can also be used to identify a tree. Bark can be furrowed (cottonwood), scaly (sycamore), peeling (hickory), smooth (beech), shiny (cherry), papery (birch), or warty (hackberry) .

3. Look at the fruit: If the tree produces fruit, this can also be used to identify it. For example, apples are a common fruit produced by apple trees, and acorns are produced by oak trees.

4. Consider the overall shape: Some trees have a distinctive shape that can be used to identify them, especially from a distance. For example, the narrow shape and light and airy crown of a silver birch can be contrasted with the broadly spreading crown of an oak.

5. Use an identification guide: There are many online resources and apps that can help you identify a tree. For example, the Arbor Day Foundations "What Tree Is That?" guide features an easy-to-use, step-by-step process to identify nearly any tree. The Woodland Trust also offers a simple guide to tree identification. Additionally, there are apps available, such as VTree, that can help you identify trees by taking a picture of their leaves.

In summary, to identify a tree, you can look at its leaves, bark, fruit, and overall shape, and use online resources or apps to help you narrow down the possibilities.