Willow wood welcome to the homesteading today forum and. In determining a good wood for fires, the most important thing to think about is the amount of heat it creates per cord. If youre just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support youre in the right place. Splitting willow can range from easy to difficult depending on the tree and the section of tree you are attempting to split. Some woods can have up to 50% of its weight in water when freshly cut. The best wood to use in your stove and why it is important to use the correct type. The paint is virtually gone from all but cracks and deep creases. The willow bark sold in europe and the united states usually includes a combination of the bark from white, purple, and crack willows. Store firewood a safe distance from the home and other structures when possible.
Burns well with a pleasant smell and without spitting. Parrots, cockatiels, cockatoos, budgies, parakeets, conures, macaws, african grey. Alder and maple are the most common safe firewood trees in the american northwest. Crack willow the wood database lumber identification. Green wood, besides burning at only 50 to 60% of the fuel value of dry wood, deposits creosote on the inside of your stove and chimney. Plantation pine, douglas fir and blue gum are widely available from canterbury good wood merchants and are the best woods to use and mix to get your fire. Crack willow, salix euxina trees and shrubs naturegate. Jul 17, 2017 choose a spot where the slab can remain for the extended time required.
Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months. Just like a living tree, itll always be a work in progress. Sep 21, 2017 weeping willows are fastgrowing trees that thrive in wet conditions but will also grow well in drier soils. The dos and donts of firewood storage lindemann chimney. Weeping willows are fastgrowing trees that thrive in wet conditions but will also grow well in drier soils.
Nov 02, 2002 willow wood may be burned in a fireplace if it is adequately cured dried. If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome. Burning a recently cut live trees wood, referred to as green wood, is not the best use of the resource or safe in a home. You can always identify them by simply snapping a branch if it is crack willow.
In general, the wood of broadleafed trees is a safe and efficient fuel for the fireplace. Of the several species of willow in the us and canada, they are all low density woods that are usually not that popular as firewood. If willow firewood is stored anywhere where it can obtain moisture it can sprout and grow into another tree. Its an abundant natural resource that provides affordable, low cost heat. Garden guides are weeping willow trees good firewood. It is native to riparian habitats, usually found growing beside rivers and. White willow the wood database lumber identification hardwood. When selecting the perfect firewood to deliver to our clients, willow tree and landscape services looks at a number of factors. The goat willows male catkins resemble a cats paws. Leaving both the front and back open allows for proper circulation of air allowing the wood to dry. Green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney. Willow is easy to split, and i do all my splitting with a splitting maul. A good firewood but due to its high water content of approximately 140% more water than wood. Some of us have whittled whistles from willow twigs, but that means little for carving split logs.
Goats willow firewood forum arbtalk the social network. However modern stoves are so efficient that they will burn any timber provided it is dry and willow is now being grown specifically as a fuel crop for making wood chip and pellets. Others are very flammable and can put your at risk for a chimney fire. Cracks may appear, particularly toward the ends of the logs. Determining which firewood is the best for you depends upon your particular needs or your preferences. If youve done it, made it, got a van load of oily tshirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom, then y. The leaves are oblong and the flowers are graywhite.
Common species such as oak, hickory, maple and ash are the usual fuel woods in the east and south, with aspen widely used in the rocky mountain states. The community sausage feed types use only willow for that here. And make sure the wood you use is seasoned, or dried. Apart from this benefit, burning pine wood requires responsibility. Otherwise, all firewood should actually be stored at least five feet or more away from the foundation of the home, advises orkin pest control. The willow bark sold in europe and the united states usually includes a combination of the bark from white, purple, and crack willows the article sounds reliable, and apparently the bark and compounds. Here are some dos and donts for safely storing firewood outside.
Goat willow is one of several willow species that is also sometimes known as pussy willow. Salix nigra, crack willow salix fragilis, purple willow salix purpurea, and weeping willow salix babylonica. Jan 10, 2012 seasoning your firewood is the process of drying it out in order for it to burn at its best ability. By kevin lindegaard, md crops for energy and wha director willow is one of the fastest growing trees and produces a lot. Kept closely pruned, it is sometimes used for hedges and screens, or as a filler plant in boggy areas. This is dried and hopper fed into an appropriate type fire. Also known as the pussy willow, the male catkins of the goat willow look like a cats paws. Aug 30, 2017 in general, the wood of broadleafed trees is a safe and efficient fuel for the fireplace.
Seasoning your firewood is the process of drying it out in order for it to burn at its best ability. It also has slightly larger leaves than normal white willow, being 10 to 11cm long and 1. Stack it off the ground pallets allow for drainage, and away from trees. The tree likes sun to slight shade at the location and the soil should be sandy to loamy to loamy strong, loving moist sites. I dont use the fireplace for heat, more for looks and an occasional outdoor fire pit. Feb 06, 2005 the most common is salix fragilis, the crack willow, whose branches are brittle even when as thick as a mans arm. One way to get rid of a fallen willow is to chop it into firewood. I just cut down three small bottlebrush trees callistemon, is it safe to use for firewood once seasoned.
Common species such as oak, hickory, maple and ash are the usual fuel woods in the east and south. The trees have a short lifespan, typically around 30 years. We provide the top selection of high quality willow cuttings and willow whips for sale, all at an affordable price. Sep 15, 2008 this is dried and hopper fed into an appropriate type fire. In general it is easier to carve wood when it is green, but you may have more problems with checking and cracking. Willow firewood is low in btu, one of the lowest of the broadleaf trees. You should allow willow to season at least one year before using it. You can be self sufficient with firewood with a relatively small area of willow, plus you can make all your own log baskets etc, and when they wear out just burn them. Recently the price of natural gas, propane and fuel oil have been anything but predictable. Just because you dont currently have a firewood shed or the one you do have is already full, doesnt mean your firewood cant be protected. If it has been treated, it may still be possible to use the firewood, depending on what was used to treat the tree. Store firewood on a concrete slab, asphalt, or even a tarp.
Fast burn lots of snap crackle pop but it burns ok when i get dead stuff that falls off. Do be aware that, if the trees near the house taking it out will affect water in the. Harvested by our ancestors for hundreds of years, many people have grown to appreciate the warmth and beauty of a natural fire. You can always identify them by simply snapping a branch if it is crack. Willow is a lightweight hardwood with good shock resistance, but overall is weak for its weight. It is native to riparian habitats, usually found growing beside rivers and streams, and in marshes and water meadow channels. Tips for choosing the firewood you really want pine wood will create a nice aroma that will fill your home when burning. Dried wood that has been split into suitable sizes is easier to light. Place the slab upright, off the ground, leaning it at a 30degree angle to provide air flow behind it. For outdoor storage, stack firewood away from other structures. Some people believe willow bark may help with cancer, headache, menstrual cramps, and gout. Ive been reading about hybrid willow and it seems to be the fastest growing tree about that coppices well and is relatively good for firewood and charcoal making.
Use the formula of 1inch of thickness per year for the curing time. Choose a spot where the slab can remain for the extended time required. Doesnt spit too much and small pieces can be burned unseasoned. Tips for choosing the firewood you really want firewood facts. It is a tree which has a stout trunk and flowers after coming into leaf. By kevin lindegaard, md crops for energy and wha director willow is one of the fastest growing trees and produces a lot of biomass in a short space of time. Some say that the extra pine sap is like extra fuel for the fire. Over the last 10 years, we have provided willow cuttings and willow whips for largescale biofuel projects, snow and privacy fences, living walls, riparian buffers, phytoremediation projects, and ornamental uses, such as basketry and dried willow arrangements. While all north american wood can burn, some is better than others. Cricket bat willow the trees used in the manufacture of cricket bats is the salix alba caerulea cricket bat willow. Crack willow burns the best and splits the most easy,all willow burns to fast though imo. The willow bark sold in europe and the united states usually includes a. Over the last 10 years, we have provided willow cuttings and willow whips for largescale biofuel. It is really hard to transfer one carvers experience to another for any type of wood.
In determining a good wood for fires, the most important thing to think about is. Willow is easy and fast to grow, but not the greatest domestic firewood, fine when baled and chucked into drax. It produces less heat than many other woods, but it may be burned unless the tree was recently treated with pesticides. Salix fragilis, with the common names crack willow and brittle willow, is a species of willow native to europe and western asia. Daves firewood tips smokefree fire master, dave pullen from the new zealand home heating association shares his top picks for the best firewood to burn a warmer, cheaper, smokefree fire. If youre cutting your own firewood, there are numerous safety precautions to take, including wearing protective gear, taking chainsaw safety courses and learning safe, effective ways to fell trees. Willow wood may be burned in a fireplace if it is adequately cured dried. You should allow willow to season at least one year before using.
When the trees decline in vitality, they may split, fall or lose limbs. The most common is salix fragilis, the crack willow, whose branches are. Determining which firewood is the best for you depends upon your particular. The branches are hairless, yellowishbrown, glossy, and easily breaking. This type of willow is very fast growing with a single straight stem. Crack willow is not native in finland, but originally an ornamental. A good firewood which burns well with a pleasant smell. Willow bark is the bark from several varieties of the willow tree, including white willow or european willow, black willow or pussy willow, crack willow, purple willow, and others.
Once you have all of the cords neatly stacked, cover the top of. Joined feb 6, 2007 messages 14,825 location warshington. Because it is a broadleaf tree it is technically a hardwood, but burns more like a softwood and is softer than a lot of softwoods. Goat willow salix caprea british trees woodland trust. Willow is a lightweight hardwood with good shock resistance. The beauty of growing it like that is the logs only ever reach about 4 in diameter so there is no splitting required. Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Crack willow is sonamed because of its branches and twigs, which are easily broken from the tree, resulting in a cracking sound. Some of us have whittled whistles from willow twigs, but that means. I have corkscrew willows in my yard and the wood is ok.
Some believe that burning pine in fireplaces is safe as long as you routinely maintain your fireplace and watch your fire. Green wood, besides burning at only 50 to 60% of the. Dried firewood can be stored inside against a wall or other dry place. If wood is burned when it is still too wet, the fire will be smokey and slow burning, if it burns for long at all. Place the slab out of direct sunlight, rain and weather. The fasttrack to selfsupply woodfuel but make sure you read this first. Salix fragilis l produces the crack willow, found in the british isles, europe and north asia. Willow bark may be used to help with swelling, and muscle and joint pain, especially in people with arthritis.
Goat willow is a large shrub or small tree that is often grown for the attractive puffy catkins. In fact, the wood contains so much moisture it will rot before it dries out if you dont split it. Nc firewood is conveniently located at 7709 south nc hwy 55 in willow springs, nc adjacent to the county market store or at our new facility at 1027 bud hawkins rd, dunn nc 28334. Choosing the right type of wood is important because it allows for a hotter, more. It supports lots of wildlife, including the elusive and regal purple emperor butterfly. Crack willow salix fragilis black willow salix nigra diamond. Baskets, utility wood, crates, furniture, carvings, and other small specialty wood items. I am after safe wood information and not so much leaf info. The most common is salix fragilis, the crack willow, whose branches are brittle even when as thick as a mans arm. I dont use the fireplace for heat, more for looks and an occasional outdoor fire pit during the summer. The willow bark sold in europe and the united states usually includes a combination of the bark from white, purple, and crack willows the article sounds reliable, and apparently the bark and compounds are effective for human use it they are not allergic to it. Tips for storing dry firewood wood that is intended for use as firewood must be properly dried before use. Indeed, it is true that a pine fire burns very hot and so it might heat a home quicker.
Is willow tree wood good for burning in a wood stove. The tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to 20 m 66 ft high. The obviouse benifit with this system is the early and regular cropping for smaller areas. Others will use it to help lower fevers and symptoms of the common cold or flu. Willow even when very wellseasoned willow produces poor slow burning fire wood with little flame. See the articles wood allergies and toxicity and wood dust safety for more information. The branches are hairless, yellowishbrown, glossy, and easily breaking from the base. The crack willow is botanically called salix fragilis.