Burn Dry Wood to Stay Warm, Save Money, and Be Safe

As you relax in front of your Yule Log this week, enjoying both its warmth and the savings that it brings to you, take a moment now to plan on making next year’s firewood 20 proof or less. You might ask- what does that mean and why should I care? Well, wood that is greater than 20% moisture content (or proof) will not burn efficiently, and that will mean wasted heat and increased risk of a chimney fire.

OK, so how do you get your wood down to 20 proof or less? By giving it time and space to dry; here’s how:

1. Nine to 12 months before you need the firewood- cut, split, and stack wood in piles that are one log deep and spaced one log length apart.
2. Cover the top of the pile with plastic to keep the rain out and keep the bottom layer up off the ground to increase air circulation (which also helps keep snakes away).

And in the fall, use your kitchen oven and some math to measure your wood’s moisture content; to determine what “proof” it is.

Cut a small (1” thick) piece from the middle of several logs from different sections of the pile. Use a kitchen scale to determine the fresh weight (in ounces) and then record it for each piece. Dry the pieces in your oven set at 200 to 250 degrees until their weight no longer changes; that could take 12-24 hours. Weigh each piece again and record the dry weight of each piece. The difference between each piece’s fresh and dry weights tells you how much water was in the wood. Divide the weight of the water by the dry weight of the wood to find the moisture content of the wood in your pile. Wood is ready to burn when the moisture content is 20 percent or less.

For example, for each piece subtract its dry weight (let’s say 5 ounces) from its fresh weight (say 5 ¾ ounces), then divide the answer (3/4 or 0.75) by the dry weight (5) and multiply that answer (0.15) by 100 (equals 15 proof wood). So … the math formula would be [(5.75 – 5)/5]*100 = 15 proof wood. This wood is dry enough to burn.

Tip for parents- Clip and save this article for the next time your kids ask you what good is math anyway. Being able to do the math above promotes efficient wood burning that helps the environment, saves you money, and reduces chances of a chimney fire!

See many more tips on Forest Stewardship at http://vip.cas.psu.edu/News.html or call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County ask for the Garden Help line at 963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu

Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Dead Trees Bring Life

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? This is a question asked for ages, and no matter the philosophical answers debated, a fallen tree may have uses no one sees. Trees have countless uses for humans. They offer shade, filter the air, and add value and beauty to the home landscape. Trees stabilize the soil and even produce food for us. When a tree is cut, it can be transformed into fuel, made into furniture, form the structure of our homes, and without trees, a newspaper could not be written, produced, or read.

Dead trees have a useful and special value, not for us but for wildlife. Dead parts of live trees, which are called 'snags', and fallen trees, referred to as 'logs' become important resources in nature. They become food and shelter for a number of species. As a tree decomposes, it recycles itself into the soil. The process enriches the soil and makes conditions favorable for the next generation of seedlings.

Logs become shelter for many layers of life. Insects, salamanders, mice and other small creatures seek refuge there. Other woodland life feed off them. Some grouse have been known to raise generations on the same logs. As the wood decays, it increases the mushroom population. During the harsh winter months, mushrooms are an important food source for birds, squirrel, and deer.

Snags, or standing dead trees, offer a nesting place for thirty-five species of birds. Wood ducks look for tree cavities near water. Barn owls look for nesting sites near large fields. Chickadees, sapsuckers, and woodpeckers make beneficial use of snags. As insects invade a dead tree, they attract turtles, shrews, salamanders, and bats among others, to sustain their life. One bat can consume thousands of mosquitoes while we slumber away.

While it may not always be feasible to keep dead trees on your property, some consideration should be given to sustaining the life we don’t see. On a smaller scale, brush piles, or even a post-season live Christmas tree set outside can create a haven for wildlife. Just because we don’t hear a sound doesn’t mean sounds are not being made.

For more information on this topic, The Penn State Master Gardeners have the publication 'Dead Wood for Wildlife'. Please contact us at 570-963-9642 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu to request your free copy.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Caring for a Real Christmas Tree

Last week we talked about selecting a fresh Christmas tree; here are some tips to help you keep it fresh through the holiday season. For best results, follow these tips from the time you purchase your tree until you remove it from your home.

• Use a tree stand that holds 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter and keep the water level above base of tree at all times. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important.
• Tree trunk too wide for the tree stand? Buy a larger stand, do NOT whittle the trunk!
• Storing a tree for a few days? Put trunk in water and store in a cool, shaded and protected area.
• More than 12 hours since harvest? Cut off about ¼” from the base to improve water uptake. Do not angle or v-cut.
• Keep trees away from sources of heat (direct sunlight, heat vents, etc.) and keep the room cool.
• It is NOT worth it to: drill holes in the base, use “I-V” type devices, apply anti-transpirants or add anything to the water in the stand.
• Proper tree care and watering reduces fire hazards more than spraying trees with flame retardants.
• Run your fingers across the needles. If they break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry and should be removed from the house.

For the full article on Christmas tree care by Dr. Rick Bates go to http://ento.psu.edu/extension/christmas-trees/cultural-information/caring-for-your-cut-christmas-tree or call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County call our garden help line at 963-6842 ext. 1377 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu


Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County