What trees should not be used for firewood?

Evergreen trees are softwoods, so avoid buying firewood that comes from pines, firs or cypress trees. Freshly cut or unseasoned wood. Wood that has just been cut from the tree is still loaded with natural moisture. This makes the wood more difficult to burn.

What tree wood should you not burn?

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 you burn any tree for firewood?

Yes, But You Should Consider the 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. Examples of softwoods include cedar, spruce, yew, pine and redwood.

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.

Is pine a good firewood?

Pine is terrible when it comes to coal production and it is, by far, one of the worst wood types to burn if you want a consistent overnight fire. However, it does make it a good type of wood for outdoor fires because it will burn out quite fast and you won't have to stay up for too long to supervise it.

Best Trees for Firewood

Is maple a good firewood?

Maple: Maple firewood burns very similarly to Ash.

When properly seasoned, it produces long and steady burns in your wood burning stove. Maple can be found throughout the entire continental United States, making it a favorite firewood choice for wood stoves.

Is cedar wood toxic to burn?

Some people do use cedar for a quick warm-up during the spring and fall seasons, where a short burst of hot fire can take the chill off. One thing not to blame cedars for: It has not been proven that cedars produce toxic smoke, unlike some glue fumes in composite wood products.

Is poplar a good firewood?

Poplar produces a similar amount of BTUs as aspen and cottonwood. Because poplar doesn't burn for very long, it's not the best choice for home heating. You won't see a poplar fire burn overnight.

Is Spruce good for firewood?

Softwood Firewood

Fir is the best choice, but other softwoods include pine, balsam, spruce, cedar, tamarack, alder, and poplar. Softwoods tend to burn faster and leave finer ash compared to hardwoods.

Is Juniper good for firewood?

Juniper is a quick-burning wood. This makes it easy to light, but you'll need more wood to keep your fire burning for the same amount of time as a hardwood fire. Coals produced by juniper firewood don't last long. If you don't keep a watchful eye on restocking the fire, you may find yourself with nothing but cold ash.

Can wood be too old to burn?

As long as firewood is left to sit in the right conditions and free from moisture it won't go bad for many years. Once firewood has been seasoned for the right amount of time it should be stored off the ground, under a form of cover and open to the atmosphere to ensure that it doesn't rot.

What kind of wood burns the hottest?

Can I burn a dead tree right away?

You can cut the wood, stack it and save it for next year or you can cut dead standing or dead blown down trees. Since dead trees have a low moisture content already, you can burn them almost immediately (depending on how long they have been dead).

Is Walnut a good firewood?

Most types of Walnut firewood burn easily and cleanly if the wood has been seasoned for between one and two years. There is very little smoke put out, so to speak. Green Walnut, on the other hand, produces clouds of thick and harmful smoke. Green Walnut should never be burned inside in large amounts (kindling is fine).

What type of wood burns the longest?

Hickory is the Longest Burning Wood

It's simple, really: it takes longer for the fire to consume hardwood because there is more fuel “packed” into each log. Hickory has the highest density among firewood (37-58 lbs/ft.³), and therefore burns for the longest time.

Is Cherry a good firewood?

Cherry—Cherry wood is one of the most popular woods to burn in fireplaces due to its pleasant, non-smoky aroma. It is very east to split, tends to burn at a medium heat, and does not produce much smoke. However, it tends to spark a little more than the average hardwood and can cost a little more than the average wood.

What is the best and worst firewood?

What wood burns with least smoke?

What kind of trees make the best firewood?

The best-known firewoods are white and red oak trees. The wood from these oak trees is prized for its strength and density, and that density makes it one of the best at producing heat.

Is it OK to burn moldy firewood?

Mold spores are a completely natural part of our environment, and actually pose an important purpose of breaking down dead organic matter found in forests – so some mold is actually good! But, if your firewood is rotting and there is visible mold and mildew on the log, it's best not to burn it.

Can you burn freshly cut wood?

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.

Should you cover your firewood?

To Cover or Not to Cover

Ideally, firewood should remain uncovered so it can be properly dried, but this is not practical when rain, snow and ice can quickly coat winter firewood. A good cover over the top of your woodpile will protect it, and be sure the cover is slanted to shed moisture away from the pile's base.

What is the difference between a cedar tree and a juniper tree?

Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.

Can you use mesquite as firewood?

Mesquite – This wood is naturally dry so it doesn't require seasoning like other hardwoods. It burns hot like oak but with minimal popping so it's safer to burn in a fire overnight. The distinctive fragrance from burning mesquite is a key ingredient in many smoked meats.