Met up with my mother father and sister today to have dinner and play some cards. My sister started telling us how her boyfriend won't start cutting until near winter and I told her the best time to cut is anytime, but cutting splitting and stacking was best done in the spring as the summer helps with the drying process. The funny thing is I won't stop cutting until the snow gets deep enough I can't walk through it. Anyone else do this?
I stop when my wood runs out. And since I rely on chance meetings with tree removal services (no woodlots in this city) it usually does not take long. I would love to be in your situation though
I start in the Fall and if there isn't too much snow I'll cut during the Winter and then I finish up in the spring.
I do most of my cutting through the winter and into spring. If I'm in a good spot I usually have a hard time quitting then I run into issues with too much heat to get it all split and stacked so that sometimes has to wait till fall. That is another benefit to being several years ahead.
Yep...most people on here try and hoard as much as we can and keep going as long as we have wood. I'm for the first time ever in a position where I am probably 2 years ahead. I will continue cutting in the fall, but I have a broken splitter, so I have to address that issue before I can do too much.
I don't have the luxury of waiting, I do it when time permits. If it's the summer I do it in the early morning hours as much as possible.
If a person is dropping live trees for the next years firewood, the tradition was to drop em after the sap was done running. I think the idea was to get a head start on the drying process by flopping trees in the late fall/winter. Some are of the impression that cutting with full foliage, and leaving it to wilt and leaves to brown will do some drying work for you also. I just cut when and where the next tree line takes me.
Only thing I halfway disagree on is the cutting in spring. Once spring arrives, we like to stop cutting. Reason is sap is up, birds are returning and beginning to build nests, etc. Cutting after leaf drop is really the best time for cutting if at all possible. We wait until after deer season which means we usually start cutting around December 1. We cut until snow gets too deep or after the temperatures get under about 10 degrees. Then we'll wait until about the last half of February if snow isn't too deep or else we are done until snow melts. Then the splitter comes out and the saws are put away. As for those who won't start cutting until near winter (like we do) or your sister's boyfriend, that is fine....so long as you aren't going to burn that wood in the same year. Get on the 3 year plan and all is well.
I think fall would be the best time to cut because it is the best time to be outdoors. But I can't justify driving the deer off my property just so I can cut when the weather is nice. So I will wait until after hunting season and cut during the winter. Yes, it is cold. But I truly enjoy cutting wood, and am too stubborn to let the cold weather stop me. The only exception would be if the snow is simply too deep to maneuver through.
He burns same year wood, usually mixed with scraps. A lot of the wood I gather in spring is already felled as the heavy snow usually knocks over any trees that are already on their way down, but I see why you don't.
Seems to be a general consensus that fall is better. Maybe when I'm up to about 4 or 5 years ahead I'll only fell and cut in fall and then split and stack in spring, or something like that, need to focus on getting ahead first.
After last winter the only thing on my mind was keeping the wood supply coming and the snow outof the way. And no disresepct intended, the last thing on my mind was cutting and splitting etc.
I cut, split, stack regardless of the season. I seem to go in spurts with a bunch of work getting done for a few weeks, then a long gap.
I will cut split and stack year round. All of my tree falling happens during the summer. Then I will scrounge for wood during winter from some places I know.
I cut anytime the weather's not lethally hot, as a volunteer clearing storm damage, for Audubon center (2 large preserves) and local land trust. My challenge is in finding storage space, not wanting it in open view on the front lawn. My stacks now have wood for somewhere around 4-5 yrs. I can get picky, and accept only shagbark/white oak/black birch. Real luxury there, and no charge for gym membership! Just finished hand-splitting a few truckloads of shagbark, and what a beautiful sight that is! I'll get to enjoy that view for a couple years. I split when I get the urge, and can access the stacks of rounds. The exercise is a PLUS.
Since I have "limited" storage space, about enough room for 3 years worth, I cut when I have room to store it. I usually start gathering wood in late winter or very early spring, before any leaves sprout. I process as I can but like to be finished before the heat and the kids are out of school. I aim for June 1st but am happy if I finish by the 15th. KaptJaq
I'm so far behind, I can't even see any trees. Seriously though, I'll cut whenever I can. Woods cutting, is preferred in early spring, or starting about now, when the weather has cooled. If I have a log load in the drive, I've been out there cutting in the middle of Feb. Those allow processing almost anytime, as long as there isn't much snow.
Myself I got 2 acres of storage and processing area. I only got about 12 cord ready now I hope that's is 2 years worth.. Summer is a hard time kids are home and building projects and vacations. Cut in the fall. my deer don't care. I routinely see them after a tree falls looking to see what we are doing. then logs are pushed too side and blocking and splitting occur til snows too deep. Then snowmobile season. then March when melt happens Spring cleanup of winter damage. then do as much as can in summer and big push in fall. I am hoping I am 2 years ahead and this fall puts me at 3 plus. pushed hard this summer as last winter was a killer before that 6 months was seasoned for me. but I learned a lot in February reading this forum. most of 12 cord is already less than 20%
March seems to be the month I like to drop and haul out logs on spring snow. Temps are 20-40 degrees usually. No bugs, nice n cool. It's a lot of work stompin thru deep snow in the middle of winter, but I try it once in a while if it's above 10 and my ole bod is willin'...
