It’s best to gather firewood from hardwood trees rather than softwood ones. Less sap is produced by hardwood trees like oaks than by softwood species like pines. As a result, they provide superior firewood that burns with less smoke and is heavy in resin and more heat.

You should split the logs into half or quarters after chopping the tree into logs of equal size. Specifically, why is splitting required? Splitting accomplishes two goals. Firstly, it lets moisture escape the wood more quickly, which speeds up the drying process. It also produces simpler to light smaller chunks of fuel.

It would be beneficial if you delayed burning firewood that you split from a fallen tree. Instead, you’ll need to season it by storing it outside where it can dry. But don’t just keep your firewood outside your house on the ground. Store it off the ground instead, where it won’t be able to absorb moisture from the earth, as on a concrete pad or wood deck. Your firewood won’t dry out if it’s not covered in any way. The wood will absorb some of the water each time it rains. A quick and easy approach to keep your firewood weatherproof is to cover it with a tarp.

New wood might take up to six months to dry, depending on the kind of tree and the moisture level. Waiting less than six months will result in difficult-to-light, wet firewood. The firewood’s capacity to ignite and burn will be limited by all the moisture inside of it.

Contact Johnson Ops Tree Care If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 608 526-6297