I occasionally help a relative with clearing some trees along a creek that runs through some farmgound. It's the same place that I've been chewing away at the buckthorn. Came across a dead standing tree that I'm pretty sure is an elm. Not much left of the leaves. Thanks in advance for the help.
I agree on the elm. My advice still stands to wait until bark falls off at least half or preferably 2/3 of the tree before cutting. For sure it will split 10 times easier that way and still make excellent firewood. I could easily heat 100% with dead elm if we had to.
I may do that if she doesn't want it down sooner. Limbs have lost a lot of bark. Plus it's not too big so it should split fairly well...as far as elms go that is.
That can be true...the stuff I've split can make you work for it small or big. Like you said, elm is a great wood to heat with. Kind of a love/hate relationship I guess.
Well, also keep in mind it depends where the elm grows. If out in the wind, they can get very twisted! In the woods is another story. Here's some we cut a few years back. That stuff split very easy. Some of it was just starting to turn punky but not much.
Excellent advice, that method works well for me too. I've been known to "store" rounds for a couple of years when they were green before splitting.