When to split

by Chris
(St. Augustine, Fl)

I just had a pine tree, 18 to 24 in. dia., cut down. I had them cut and leave me some sections. How soon after cutting should I split? The wood still seems really wet.

thanks, Chris


Answer

Chris,


Excellent question. The quicker that you split your firewood, the better. This is for a couple of reasons.

The sooner you split the wood, the quicker it will dry out. Splitting the wood allows more air to get at it and speeds up the seasoning process. Pine actually dries out pretty quickly. If you split it now and store it properly, it will be ready to burn by the fall.

Wood also tends to split easier when it is still green or wet. Does it make a huge difference? Not really, but every little bit counts.

Hope this helps!

-Firewood Matt

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