Getting ready to cut some of the dead Ash in our swampy area. First time we've been able to get into the area in many years. Got dark on me before in could take pics of load. Probably close to a cord and a half so far.
That reminds me...we have a swampy area at work that needs brush hogged...might be a good time to get in there. If I didn't already have more than enough wood, this area has dozens, maybe hundreds of dead Ash trees...hate to see it going to waste...but what is a firewood hoarder to do, only so many hours in a day...
I'm going to ask a question that's probably been asked 1,000 times before ~ how long can you leave a dead standing Ash and still get decent firewood out of it?
Used to be tillable back to where the Willows are. Beavers built a dam at the rail road trestle (west and a little south) and the rail road finally dug it out 3-4 years ago. Finally drying up, still spongy under the grass and cattails.
I'll post a few pics of the butt logs in an little bit. This has been dead for at least three years. A couple trees had green shoots on the lower trunk, but nothing up top.
Ive watched dead ash trees slowly lose limbs over a few years from smallest to larger branches. I can judge how long its been dead by twig/limb loss. The tree usually rots enough from ground level and falls over or snaps off. The lowest few feet are punky as is the top but the wood in between is still good. 3-5 years. Obviously the sooner you harvest the better. I have a couple in my woods that havent put out leaves in two years so they will be coming down before years end. BTW first time ive heard it asked on FHC that i can recall.
That is almost impossible to answer. It doesn't all go bad at the same rate, but I've cut ash over 10 year bad. Just use your own judgement and realize it does lose btu.
That makes sense. Depending on the microclimate the tree is in, if it's dry, damp all the time, windy etc. So many variables. At some point finding a good Ash tree to harvest is going to become very difficult for most of us. Who knows, if you were able to harvest a 10 year bad Ash, I guess there's no real rush to go crazy getting all you can right now.
Swamp is too wet since Friday nighy/Sat morning. These were along the treeline and in the oilwell site.
Three log length loads so far. One was pretty twisted stuff. Ground at home is dry enough thankfully.
Still wet in the swamp from the Friday/Sat rains, 1.8" fell during that time. Cutting some blow downs and some beech today. Bringing them home in log form is the most efficient. There are tops in the woods we will get with the dump trailer. Here's the load today. Pretty heavy with the beech. Wheat is coming off the next few days...that means a ton of tree line trees are coming down.
