Ash Die Back wood as firewood .

[Mark Bolam]

It is a tonne though, right?

[rarefish383]

In the States the EAB has wiped out nearly 100% of our White Ash. I never burned Ash, because in the tree business and having farm land/forest, I had an unlimited supply of dead standing Oak. I've heated my house with wood since 1987. Last year my wife said she didn't want to burn wood anymore. So, I sold all of my Oak and lots of Ash. When it got cold she asked where our firewood was? I said you told me we weren't going to burn so I sold it all. Then she said she meant she just didn't want to heat solely with wood. She still wanted fires on real cold days. Go figure? Who can translate what a women means, to what she says? So, I had to burn Ash the rest of the winter. I was surprised, it starts easier than Oak, burns hot, leaves fine white powder for ashes, just doesn't burn as long as Oak. I was pleased with how it burned. I've been cutting ash for my customers for about 5 years now. I've found that the standing dead ash burns well, dries very fast. But, once a tree falls, it soaks up ground water and rots fast. Then it just stews for a while and finally catches and burns fast with little heat. I might have enough to last two more years, then I'll be back to my Oak. But, I'm going to stick with the Ash as long as I can.

[daveatdave]

7 hours ago, rarefish383 said:

In the States the EAB has wiped out nearly 100% of our White Ash. I never burned Ash, because in the tree business and having farm land/forest, I had an unlimited supply of dead standing Oak. I've heated my house with wood since 1987. Last year my wife said she didn't want to burn wood anymore. So, I sold all of my Oak and lots of Ash. When it got cold she asked where our firewood was? I said you told me we weren't going to burn so I sold it all. Then she said she meant she just didn't want to heat solely with wood. She still wanted fires on real cold days. Go figure? Who can translate what a women means, to what she says? So, I had to burn Ash the rest of the winter. I was surprised, it starts easier than Oak, burns hot, leaves fine white powder for ashes, just doesn't burn as long as Oak. I was pleased with how it burned. I've been cutting ash for my customers for about 5 years now. I've found that the standing dead ash burns well, dries very fast. But, once a tree falls, it soaks up ground water and rots fast. Then it just stews for a while and finally catches and burns fast with little heat. I might have enough to last two more years, then I'll be back to my Oak. But, I'm going to stick with the Ash as long as I can.

start it with the ash then put some oak on best of both worlds 

[Billhook]

I did see somewhere that the fairy liquid on the end and blow test does not work very well on die back Ash, presumably because the fungus has blocked the capillaries, so it may be that this stops it drying properly.

I have not had any issues with using it in a wood stove which is burning  well without shutting the air down for overnight, but have not used it on an open fire yet.

[MattyF]

It’s still wood... if I have some hard wood in a pile for 4 years it does not mean it will burn straight away, it will need drying out in sunshine or a barn...
Any ash die back I’ve processed in to cages as long as it’s still seasoned is absolutely fine, I’m heating the house and cooking off it right now .. the stems are usually still green on ash felled with die back so it will still need treated to be seasoned properly, all this you can burn ash green is total bollox... it may season quicker but I would not burn green ash.

[Teddy Leas]

Sorry for the thread bump, but just wondering how, longer term, people are finding burning logs from trees with ash dieback?

 

We have had a number of large ash trees down over the last couple of years (due to proximity to road), all of which have had some ash dieback symptoms, but only really badly to the upper limbs, with the majority of the wood appearing reasonably healthy. However, even the stuff that was felled and split 12-18 months ago is proving slow to dry and even when less that 20% moisture content, not great to burn (it kinda burns like its still wet...).

 

Just wondering what others experience is?

[Vedhoggar]

Ash with dieback felled in June 2024, split and cut into 33cm logs at the same time then stored in slatted sheds is ready to burn now.

[GarethM]

I'd be checking the moisture meter personally and how it's stored, I'm burning and selling plenty that was felled this spring and it's well below 19% and burns.

[Teddy Leas]

Thanks both - yes, I was expecting it to burn well this winter...

 

In terms of storage, it's a mixture of a covered, but open sided wood store and IBCs (with lids on), so I think fairly good drying conditions.

 

In terms of the moisture metre, I'm a Building Surveyor, so I double checked my firewood one using my calibrated work one, and it was within a couple of %.

 

 

[Paul in the woods]

11 hours ago, Teddy Leas said:

In terms of the moisture metre, I'm a Building Surveyor, so I double checked my firewood one using my calibrated work one, and it was within a couple of %.

 

Have you tested the split face of a freshly split log and pushed the pins in a good depth?

 

I've burnt some ash with obvious dieback and not noticed much difference. I have often found ash takes a long time to season though, it may be one of the drier woods when felled but then takes along time to shed it's moisture.