Can you use any tree for firewood?

Yes, But You Should Consider the Species

Generally speaking, hardwood species offer better firewood than softwood species. Hardwood trees are denser and contain less resin/sap than softwoods, meaning they burn hotter and last longer. Examples of common hardwoods include beech, hickory, cherry, ash, maple and oak.

What trees can be cut down for firewood?

The best firewood comes from tall, straight, limb-free hardwood trees like oak, maple, ash, birch and hickory—those are the easiest trees to fell, buck into stove-length pieces and split. And as it just so happens, those are some of the same trees that make the best sawlogs.

Can any wood be used as fire wood?

Most any wood that has been seasoned properly will burn well. And even the best firewood will not burn well if it has not been seasoned. If the moisture level in wood is too high, energy is consumed evaporating water instead of throwing heat out.

Can you use a living tree for firewood?

Burning a recently cut live tree's wood, referred to as "green wood," is not the best use of the resource or safe in a home. Green wood's high moisture content makes the wood difficult to burn. The moisture also results in excessive smoke, causing green wood to be a poor choice for indoor furnaces or wood stoves.

How long should wood dry before burning?

It can take 3-12 months or longer to season firewood. On average, it usually takes around 6-months to dry out the cut-firewood that you purchased from a store or supplier. Depending on the original timber's moisture content, it can take more or less time to season.

Best Trees for Firewood

How can you tell if wood is seasoned?

Seasoned wood will be darker in color than green wood, and may be cracking at the ends. Seasoned wood can also lighter in weight and the bark can be peeled off more easily than unseasoned wood. A moisture meter will be able to provide an accurate reading of whether firewood is fully seasoned or not.

How do you know if wood is safe to burn?

What woods are toxic?

Those woods are usually the more exotic tropical hardwoods, such as rosewood, padauk, and teak, but sassafras (a relatively common found wood) can cause breathing problems, nausea, or even cancer.

What wood should you not burn in a fire pit?

Pine, fir, and spruce: cone-bearing trees make for a beautiful sight in the forest, but their wood shouldn't make up the bulk of your firewood pile, especially for indoor fires. Beneath their bark, conifers have a sticky, protective substance called pitch or resin that you won't find in trees like oak or maple.

Can I take wood from a fallen tree?

In simple terms, all wood belongs to somebody, normally the person who owns the tree it grew on. You can't lawfully take it away without their permission. It's as simple as that. The fact that plenty of people do help themselves to fallen wood doesn't make it legally right that they do so.

How long after a tree falls can you burn it?

Leave the wood to dry out for at least nine months. Hardwoods like oak will burn better if seasoned for more than a year. The best wood is typically seasoned for two to three years, but it will start to deteriorate after four to five years.

Can you burn a dead tree in a fireplace?

Wood containing more than 25 percent moisture is considered green and should never be burned in an indoor fireplace or wood stove. (Be sure to have your chimney professionally cleaned on a regular basis when using a fireplace or wood stove.)

Can branches be used for firewood?

It is generally safe to harvest firewood from fallen trees and branches but depending on the species, some firewood is better than others. Hardwood species offer better firewood than softwood such as fir, hemlock, and cedar.

Can you use pine trees for firewood?

Pine is an excellent choice for firewood, particularly if you plan to use it as kindling outdoors. It is a wonderful fire starter, particularly because it has so much resinous sap. This sap acts as a good ignitor, helping you to get a fire started quickly and easily.

Is maple wood toxic?

Allergies/Toxicity: Hard maple, along with other maples in the Acer genus have been reported to cause skin irritation, runny nose, and asthma-like respiratory effects. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Is pine wood toxic?

Occupational exposure to cedar and pine woods and pine resin (colophony) can cause asthma and chronic lung disease.

What woods should not be used for cutting boards?

Avoid woods that are soft, porous, or toxic for cutting boards. Softwoods include balsa, cedar, juniper pine, redwood spruce, and Douglas fir. Porous wood includes mahogany, black walnut, butternut, oak, and ash.

Will fresh cut wood burn?

By Dale V. No matter which way you cut it (or split it with your trusty log splitter), fresh wood just doesn't burn right. Fresh-cut wood has a high moisture content, which makes it hard to get burning. It also gives off more smoke.

Is it OK to burn moldy wood?

Never burn moldy wood. This is sometimes easier said than done, because mold growth tends to be more visible on the inside of wood than the outside. Therefore you should never take firewood from a tree that is diseased, rotting, or visibly moldy or mildewy.

When should you not burn wood?

How do you season firewood quickly?

Will firewood season in a garage?

GARAGE – Not only will your wood stay dry, but it won't be covered in snow during winter. The only issue is that there isn't much airflow in a garage so you'll want to avoid stacking your wood in the garage if it's too wet. It will take longer for your wood to dry under those conditions.

How long should logs sit before splitting?

The most important rules for preparing good firewood are: Cut, split and stack the wood in the early spring and let it stand in the sun and wind until it is seasoned. For many people seasoning will take about six months. for others, it will be a full year, depending on climate and wood species.