So I got my last load of the year (unless something else comes up of coarse) and almost filled the woodshed, then the rain started coming down. We need the rain, and the snow in the mountains up here in the Northwest, but I still have a load in my trailer of very green Oak and rounds on the ground in a pile.. So should I find a spot to stack this or what? I absolutely hate tarps and refuse to use them anymore.. How important is it to cover green Oak unsplit? and rounds of seasoned Fir? Looking for thoughts is all, pretty sure I know what to do, yano get off my lazy butt and go stack it.. My understanding is wood isn't like a sponge, it won't soak up water like that..
If it's sideways I wouldn't worry about it, sitting straight up with the cut exposed will soak up water. Get the stuff off the ground at the very least. I have a big pile of 6 months old oak rounds uncovered, I'm not worried about it, bark is a cover. They are turned sideways and off the ground. Seasoned stuff I would cover someway. I'm not a fan of tarps either but I use them.
If you’re out of space, I’d scrounge as many pallets as need be, split it and top cover. Couple sheets of galvanized roofing at Lowes or HD, etc prob @$20. or scrap rubber roofing does nicely. Everyday day not split is a day wasted towards seasoning, especially with oak. If the 3 yr plan is your goal, you’ll be glad you did.
If you can't get at the wood right away, I would not be too concerned. For years we cut wood and bucked it to length then just half arse stacked it and left it until spring. That is when we split and stacked it. Still left it uncovered until late fall (usually around Thanksgiving or Dec 1) to top cover it. Here are a few examples of some split piles. The last picture shows after I started splitting one year and you can see there was still some snow or ice that had been under one of the rows of logs.
Never covered logs or rounds here, just stack them laying down as mentioned. The face cut on the ground is one of those times when wood does act like a sponge. Or at least won't let any moisture out, promoting rot. Ii like Ashwatcher's advice the best though. split asap and get the clock started!
I’m with backwoods. Bucked into 18” rounds, stacked and left until spring. Then split and stacked Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Leaving the oak logs as they are, is fine. Just delays the start of the 3yr timer. No opinion on the fir
Well the water will be taken up a bit but not too much. Itle be fine till spring left as it is. Focus on your wood to be used this season. Split n stack it on a nice early spring day w a 12pack and a stogie.. U know. .
As much as I hate stacking and restacking, I'll make a stack if for no other reason it can be easier to find and work with if it snows. Sometimes I just make a heap but almost always only when I know it won't be in a pile for long. The only time I cover rounds or splits is when I'm working that stack or heap and it is going to snow and I don't want to have to be busting rounds out with a big hammer. Just temporary. All Winter ? No.
I dont like handling wood anymore times than i have to....if it was me n i had the room...it would be CSS all in one shot to get it over with...just sayin
I think I'll get off my lazy keister and get my workout tomorrow.. lol I have to put this stuff in the front of my shed.. the oak is just getting moved to the over flow area with the huge rounds of maple, hazelnut, and oak I haven't tried to split yet!!
I just throw rounds into a pile, attempting to get them not vertical on the ground, but not worrying too much about it. Then I start splitting in the spring. It works for me.
Nothing will happen over winter. I drop, drag, cut and split and whatever until mother nature shuts me down. Then I just leave. All my life we did it like that. Never once on return did we find our stuff any different or ruined. The wood will be dry when it's dry not before. Will it delay the date it's ready to go.....probably. But so what...... the return on investment for the extra labor will not materialize. Just try and remember to do it as soon as practical.
