Is anyone burning wood they planted themselves?

[Crazy Cutter]

I'm currently burning no end of willow that my neighbour planted. Most of it, I'd guess, is around four inch diameter. What I'll do is ask the neighbour for you tomorrow , see if he remembers when he planted the trees. I'll also measure up some logs.

 

Count the rings?

[wrsni]

Well I've burnt all the Castlewellan Golds that I planted around the place 20 odd year ago.

 

But that's not really a proper answer to the question is it?

 

Truth is I'm as curious myself, third summer for the woodland coming up and this is the one that I'm looking for some proper growth for the first time. A nice wet warm summer or two would be just the ticket.

[spandit]

Some good replies so far. I like burning willow. Don't have a huge amount in the log pile at the moment but at least it hasn't travelled far. Haven't planted a great deal of it, only some osier viminalis for sculptures and I've got some black maul (triandra) coming soon for weaving but don't really have the space for intensive hybrid willow growing. It's so wet on my land that only the alder is really thriving but it's only been one year so far. I'm hoping the stuff I've planted will allow wildlife to thrive, provide good screening to neighbouring properties and hopefully provide some nuts/fruit/logs in time to come.

 

It was magical planting trees this afternoon with our local barn owl hunting nearby. Wasn't too keen on being chased by one of the dogs, though, but don't think she'd have a chance of catching it.

[wrsni]

It's so wet on my land that only the alder is really thriving

 

Alder provides it's own nitrogen which I can only assume it's the reason why it's racing away from everything else. Some of my planting area is as dry ground as you could ever have and the alder is racing away from everything else on it as well.

[woody woodpecker]

Hi we are burning popular planted about 20 years ago.

[spandit]

Hi we are burning poplar planted about 20 years ago.

 

What kind of diameter is it? Trying to muster up the enthusiasm for going outside in the cold to plant some more trees...

[woody woodpecker]

Hi APPROX 18" AT THE BASE

[Two Acres]

Count the rings?

 

I've checked with the neighbour and he reckons he planted the willow around eight or nine years ago. The rings aren't very distinct in my logs, but from what I can see I would say he's right. They're about 4 inches diameter.

 

I also have a fair load of alder logs. Not burnt many yet but I have read in Vincent Thurkettles book that he rates alder as highly as ash (when both are properly seasoned and he only rates ash as 'good' not 'excellent').

[scbk]

Yes. 5 years, hybrid willow. Waiting for 4 acres of mixed hardwood to mature, planted 7 years ago. Mixed coppice with standards scheme.

 

Just out of interest, do you know what species of hybrid willow it is?

[woodyguy]

For short rotation coppice it is selections of S. Viminalis that can be bought cheaply from specialist growers. For logs 4yr cycle poplar hybrids (also from specialist growers) is easier, but depends on how wet your soil is. I've got 100 planted up for logs, put in 1yr ago.