Yep. Elm. Couple of elm trees (after limbing... logs) I let lay on sandy ground for a year until the bark is falling off, as per recommendations on this site. So, yep, the elm split just fine. A minority provided somewhat stringy splits but not much different from hickory. No real uglies in the mix. So, how long to season? I am getting about 35% moisture, does that seem 'normal?'
The chart, under "resources" at the top of the page, indicates 12-18 months drying for Elm. Firewood BTU & Drying Chart
Firewood BTU & Drying Chart This chart in the resources section is spot on. It might take longer if the wood is stacked in a shaded area or just piled with no top cover. Or if stacked top covered in a sunny windy area it could cut the time down.
Once again, there is no significant drying or seasoning for logs. There are exceptions, as always, to this rule of thumb. But if you are getting an MC reading of 35%, well you already know this. Some of the "winter cut" logs I got last spring had the same MC when cut and split.
I don’t know who made that chart but I believe it is subjective. In my experience, American Elm throws twice the heat as Basswood. Unlike what the chart says. Maybe it’s a regional thing,,
Elm is a waterhogging wood. In rounds, it won't season very well, if at all. It needs busted open in order to season. I've cut standing dead American elm that had no bark and was pretty much ready to burn off the stump, all but the very thick logs at the base of the tree. But standing dead, vertical and barkless, it seems to allow gravity to help eradicate the moisture. Laying down, not so much.
15 yrs ago during the height of Dutch elm disease here in pa,we would cut down and split barkless elm and burn it right away.burned great.but it was a bear to split.we we would always put a round behind the round that just was split to push through the the remaining fibers.
My recent experiences with cutting year old+ logs that is if C/S in the Spring they are ready for the following burning season. One year drying woods of course...maple, birch, beech etc.
I had a load or two a year or so ago that was dead when it was cut and most had no bark. I split it and stacked it in the spring and burned it next burning season a little later on in that season. Burned great , maybe a little stingy for some; but the hydro didn't know any different. That pile you have looks great and should dry no problem.
I really like standing dead elm with no bark . I cut a lot of it every year to keep it from falling on the sap lines . Not huge stuff but I’ll fill the kubota and take it home and it goes right inside the house . No stacking or splitting ! Burns great and not messy at all.
I've been cutting standing dead elm at my neighbors when the weather is right. Most is barkless except for the bottom few feet. I top off my wood rack on the porch with 4 to 8 inch diameter limb wood that is dry as can be every time I bring some home. The bigger pieces I separate by bark/barkless and stack. One day last week when temps had been well below freezing for a few days I tried some with the x27. The barkless split ok for the most part. The pieces with bark were next to impossible. So as discussed here I'm going to leave them for about a year.
