Drop and walk away

Let's say that I have cabin fever and just got to get outside to cut some wood. I want to walk around in the woods and just drop a bunch of trees that need to come out, and leave them sit there until the frost is out of the ground and there's no danger of wrecking the woods trails with tire ruts. Most of it is standing dead - ash, red pine and white birch.

How long would you leave trees just sitting on the ground before worrying about rot or decay? I'm thinking drop now, pick up in late April or early May, probably won't hurt a thing? I don't even want to do any bucking, just drop and move on.

 

I would not worry about the time frame of a few months. I have had some down over a year as long as their not laying in water

 

Aw heck, a few months ain't nothing to worry about. Only time I'd worry is if one or two may have to be dropped in a 'wash' or low spot where spring heavy rains may wash debris up against them and lodge there. It'd be bad for the chainsaw if a fellow didn't take the time to clear it back a mite. Other than that, what you're describing is the perfect prescription to cure cabin fever. Here's hoping that by now you are seriously heavy into recovery !!!

 

Not sure about the birch, but the pine & ash should be fine for a while.

 

The pine will be fine for years and the birch will be fine for a few months until you can get in on stable ground although If I had to pick which ones to put up first it would be the birch. Last year I took home a load of white birch that had been dropped by powerline crews and had been on the ground for about 3 months best I could figure, and it was fine. Enjoy getting out with the saw!

 

Go for it. Wouldn't even think about chance of rot if it were here.

 

Not a problem at all, although standing dead white birch tends to be punky to begin with. Another advantage is if you take down any green trees you will be getting them before they leaf out and the brush is that much easier to deal with.

 

Seems like my W Birch is too far gone by the time most of it's top is gone (still standing). It's marginal (btu wise) anyway and I cut & release white birch if it's soft. The rest of the list should be fine.

 

yeah do it but split the birch first.. the bark hold water if unsplit in my area (very wet) starts to rot in 6 to 9 months

 

I think that's pretty much every area birch is. Split every piece and get the birch in the stacks, but I've had the same experience with dead standing birch as fuelrod.

Cut it green and split it, it'll be great.

I found a cut in half yule log "stock" piece of paper birch in the basement of the cottage last fall. It was about 30 years old, with no dot, solid wood. I think it was dry. Lol

 

Thanks for all the encouragement. I think if I can recruit a kid or two to help me out, I may just buck it up and stack it in place in the woods.