Northern hardwoods have distinct advantages over their southern counterparts. Trees grown north of the 38th parallel produce a harder and more dimensionally-stable product. This means less chance for failure due to moisture. Additionally, the harder product minimizes denting and damage to the wood itself. The hardness is a direct result of the shorter growing season, which yields a tighter growth ring. You can see the difference by counting the number of growth rings of Northern vs. Southern products.
