Bring an extra bar and chain. Some of the logs go on our Norwood portable sawmill, but most are converted to firewood. I highly recommend it. To reverse this trend, we cut the poorest trees, leaving the best ones to regenerate.
Ah, it must be winter. Measure your distance by placing the maul where you wish to strike with arms fully extended, then step back a third or half step. Multiple wedges can be used in conjunction with a sledge hammer to split the wood if an axe is not...
I should preface this by saying that there are many trees that make quality firewood, and narrowing a list down to just the very best will naturally exclude some very usable trees.
The standard length for firewood is 16 inches. These are then cut up into six 16-inch "rounds," which are split into firewood.Firewood that you buy is cut according to industry standards.Hold a tape measure at one end of the fallen tree and stretch it...
Lilac wood grows quickly every year, sending up new branches while the older branches get thicker. If you are pruning in the summer, after the bush has blossomed, cut the branches into firebox-long sections and store them in a dry place to season until...
Split trunks and larger limb sections immediately, because hard wood is very hard to cut once it's dried. The qualities that make it good for firewood are even better for baking, especially burning hot with very little smoke or flame.
Courtesy USDA/ Michael Smith The USDA is working to eradicate Asian longhorned beetles that are infesting and killing hardwood trees in the Northeast and the Midwest. Infestations have been eradicated in Illinois and Hudson County, N.J. While the Asian...
The pest lays eggs and leaves the larvae to hatch inside valuable ash trees, where they create serpentine tunnels that interfere with the tree's ability to move water and nutrients throughout its tissues.
Red alder is "the most important hardwood in the state," according to Washington State University. In addition to evergreen trees, Washington is home to several hardwood trees and the Pacific yew tree, whose bark and needles are used to make cancer-fighting...
The thick, dark smoke that goes up the chimney contains tars that deposit on the chimney as creosote. An effective chimney cap contains sparks so they don't land on roofs, where they could filter through shingle gaps into the attic.
This widespread species is most famous for producing the sap used in maple sugar and syrup (hence its name), but the lumber is also of exceptional quality and is a popular choice for furniture and flooring.
A “cutting mattock” has a small axe blade on one side and a mattock blade called an “adze” on the other; a “pick mattock” has a pointed pick in place of the axe blade. Splitting Maul Lehman's What It Is A heavy tool (usually with an 8-pound...
Then frame around this a loose cone of cypress kindling. Split the wood upon cutting. Thus, cypress wood may be best used in an outdoor campfire or cooking fire rather than a home fireplace.While Western North America has a number of species of native...
It is eaten by humans and wildlife alike, including, grosbeaks and nuthatches. It requires no fertilizer and little water. They are considered mature at the age of 40 years, and some 300-year-old trees continue to produce fruits with seeds., and its fruit...
Sumac probably won't put out a lot of heat. It is a shrub, rather than a tree, and has alternate pinnate leaves and reddish stalks.Consult a local Department of Conservation before burning sumac on your land and positively identify any shrub sumacs before...
Building Fences An ATV or UTV can be a big help with fencing projects. Mowing Grass Move over, riding mower: ATVs and UTVs are entering the lawn care market. A large UTV can carry hundreds of pounds of supplies, so whether you're towing a small trailer...
It doesn't need to stay particularly sharp. But a 6-pound splitting maul can be just as handy to gently drive the wedge into the tree and keep it from pinching your saw. The sledgehammer side of the maul is traditionally meant to be used in conjunction...
The crown offers cover and nesting sites for birds and squirrels, and cavities in both living and dead trees provide den, nest, and roost sites for many birds and small mammals.Fortunately for the animals, acorns are on the ground at a time when they...
Is the chain sharp? Of course before starting the engine, I put on hearing protectors to retain what hearing I still have. It's winter, and for me that means time to fire up the chain saw.
Reduce the depth of the mulch to about an inch during warm weather while snakes are active.Warm compost piles and stacks of firewood attract snakes and rodents. However, there are times when you may find yourself in need of getting rid of garden snakes.
It's a winter-weather tradition: Whenever the forecast calls for snow, folks dash to the store and deplete the supply of bread and milk. As you routinely grocery shop, purchase one or two extra shelf-stable, ready-to-eat canned goods (along with a manual...
The auger makes planting fruit and nut trees, berries and ornamentals an easy job. Here are a few things to consider when buying a tractor : Think about the tasks it will perform. Mowing heavy brush or just keeping the weeds down is one of the most common...
I'm not sure if it's working because everywhere I go in my own little town, dead or dying ash trees are there. We have lost three ash trees over the past few years. « More Dirt on Gardening » Tags insecticide , Jessica Walliser
It must be spring! Over the weekend, I donned protective gear—my heavy-duty boots, chainsaw chaps and helmet with face guard and hearing protectors—and got busy sawing. I killed the chainsaw , knowing there was nothing more I could do but get well...
Bark may split vertically above feed galleries. It is extremely difficult to detect early infestation. Ash trees continue to die. They can lay up to 60 to 90 eggs during their life time.
The wood from trees that are do not produce resin, called nonresinous wood, usually comes from deciduous trees. Nonresinous wood also accepts varnishes, lacquer, shellac, stains and other finishes better than does resinous wood.
If your farm acreage has ample forestland, there are ways to earn some money from both timber and nontimber use. If you heat with wood and can prepare timber for firewood, it can add up to big savings on fuel costs.
