News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2004
COLUMBUS, OH – Now that the season of short days and cold nights has arrived, many people throughout the state turn to wood-burning stoves and fireplaces for warmth, comfort and ambiance. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) says cutting firewood from home woodlots can ease heating bills, and at the same time, further good forest management practices.
“The use of good forest management practices can be beneficial to woodland owners wanting to harvest firewood for home use or commercial sale,” sale John Dorka, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “It's important to know which trees to cut for the overall health of the woodlot and which carry the highest heat value.”
The best way to ensure good woodland stewardship is to work with an ODNR service forester in establishing long-term goals for the acreage such as timber production, firewood, wildlife habitat or scenery - and then develop a plan to reach those goals. Service foresters can also advise property owners on selecting the best trees to harvest as firewood. A list of local service foresters is available at ohiodnr.com .
Properly seasoned wood compares favorably with other fuels when it comes to heating quality. Any wood will burn, but the denser (heavier) woods, if properly dried, will deliver more heat per cord. Hardwoods such as ash, oak, beech, birch, hickory, maple and dogwood are excellent choices for long-lasting fires. Softwoods such as pine, spruce, and fir are good for kindling because they are easy to ignite and burn rapidly with a hot flame.
Firewood should be dried for 6 to 10 months before burning and should be split to aid in the seasoning process.
Woodlot management techniques that also help provide firewood include:
• Thinning poor-quality trees that are growing adjacent to high-value trees to lessen the competition for light, water, and nutrients.
• Removing poorly formed, diseased, little-used and genetically inferior trees.
• Thinning smaller understory trees can improve the looks and overall health and vigor of a woodlot.
• Removing some of the standing dead and fallen trees in a woodlot can help in clearing forest-floor debris.
For consumers who purchase firewood for home use, the Ohio Department of Agriculture provides a list of guidelines. Those guidelines are available online at http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/pubs/divs/wght/frms/Firewood.pdf
-30-
For more news online, visit the ODNR Press Room at ohiodnr.com
For Further Information Contact:
Andy Ware, ODNR Division of Forestry
(614) 265-6694
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860