Norway Maple, right on the edge of my property line. The property next door belongs to the city water department and houses a pumping station. I've been slowly cutting back these invasive trees along the fence line since I moved in. Two loads of limbs this week alone I brought to the transfer station. This last tree in particular has been a thorn in my side. Situated behind my pool, I wanted to take it down before it started raining down its little helicopter samara seed pods. Not a large tree, but given the chance it wouldn't take long to get there. Today was the day. No city workers around, so I felled it quickly (onto the city's side) and cut it up as fast as I could. Threw all the branches and firewood onto my side. Raked up whatever mess was left on the lawn. I'll probably start bringing the limbs to the dump tomorrow, maybe about 3 loads. I hate these invasive trees. The native yellow birch still standing there will now have a chance to really sprawl out and produce a full canopy, now that its not competing for sunlight. As far as firewood goes, I got enough from the maple for a few days' burn. This was more of an arborist's job than it was about gaining more firewood.
Yeah the seeds go everywhere... I'll probably be on the lookout for new growth for years to come. The dump charges aren't too extravagant. On the 2 other trips I made in the little Colorado they averaged $5 each. The dump is less than 10 minutes from my house so not too bad.
Yeah, a small amount for the stove and some skinny sticks I’ll keep for using to stabilize a couple piles. It ended up being two trips to the dump today, loaded with brush. I probably could've gotten more firewood skinnies if I took the time to process it but it was easier to just dispose of everything. Besides, there is one larger Norway Maple in the woods along the property line that I intend on going after as well. There will be a lot more firewood in that one. Note: This species does split rather easily, and even the crotch section came apart without issue using the maul.
I was going to wait until late fall-winter to drop this other, larger Norway Maple along my property line but I had that nagging itch to cut in the heat today. This one was leaning slightly over a couple stacks and shading out both my firewood and the young sugar maples trying to get a foothold in the understory. Here’s what I’m keeping for firewood. The rest of the limbs I pitched into the woods to get composted. I’ll have to keep an eye out next spring for any new invasive maples popping up since this thing was already loaded with samaras.
I have a big Norway Maple in my backyard. I only tolerate it because it shades the house in summer. But yeah the seeds are the worst. The leaves are that big of a deal....but the ridiculous amount of seeds.......geez...
I like splitting Norway maple. I like how it burns as well. Easy to split, fast to dry, burns nice and makes nice coals. I get the invasive part.
I haven’t burned it yet, but I’ll probably get around to this stuff in the winter of 2022-2023. There’s about a half acre of woods next to me that’s a nice mix of hickory, red oak and sugar maple. Also a couple large standing dead trees that provide plenty of habitat for the local wildlife. These Norways keep infiltrating the understory and outcompeting the young native saplings. As long as I live here, I’m going to play amateur forester and keep things in check.
I do that with black locust saplings. They pop up everywhere and I hit them with Roundup to kill 'em at the roots. The thorns on those saplings are murder!!
