The latter is superabundant here, but is the “devil itself to split”. Have also taken large quantities of red oak (everyone’s favorite) and red maple (the poor man’s oak), and smaller amounts of cherry (nice smell), beech (hot stuff), yellow birch (great smell), white oak, and sweetgum. Right now, I have neighbors interested in buying some wood from me, and am waiting for permission to harvest some mulberry (the devil itself to set on fire and man, does it spark, but abundant here and as energy-rich as white oak). The good news is that virtually all of the time, they say yes. Here in suburban MD (1/2 way between DC and Balt.), I am reduced to asking neighbors or builders if I can haul away their downed trees. Like some other fruitwoods, however–particularly mulberry–they are difficult to set on fire.Īs a firewood enthusiast, I read with great envy about “350 acres of river bottom woods”. Builders planted them everywhere in Maryland, so talk about an abundant supply of firewood. They also give a pleasant smell, though not as nice as red oak, cherry, or yellow birch. I have no empirical data, but for us they have given decent heat. Still have some pieces, which are quite dry by now. Re Bradford Pear, we had one in our front yard that lasted about 15 yrs., then went the way of many: split in a storm. Resinous wood has more BTU per pound because the resins have more BTU per pound than wood fiber has Less dense softwoods have less BTU per cord than more dense hardwood but they also weigh less per cord. Non resinous wood has around 8000 to 8500 BTU per pound, resinous wood has around 8600 to 9700 BTU per pound. This varies with the size and shape of the wood, and how tightly it is stacked.īTU’s or British Thermal Units are a measure of the amount of heat energy available in any given substance.Īll firewood has about the same BTU per pound. As a result, a cord of wood may only have 70-90 cubic feet of actual solid wood. A cord is 128 cubic feet but in any stack of wood there will be air space between the pieces. Much of the inconsistencies are from different variables such as how much actual solid wood is assumed to be in a cord. I have put together the best data I could find, but consider the figures to be approximate. As with most BTU charts I have seen available, some of the numbers may be a little off, but are in the general ballpark.

There is some conflicting data between different sources due to different calculating variables. The data for these charts was compiled from various sources with different firewood types. These charts will give you the amount of energy per cord of wood for some of the most common firewood species. Consistency between charts will vary due to different variables between different data sources Species This entry was posted in Broadleaved Trees on Jby habitatdana.Eastern Hardwoods Compiled from various sources Consistency between charts will vary due to different variables between different data sources. Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn Native Plants Network, Propagation Protocol Database USDA Forest Service-Fire Effects Information System WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke MuseumĮ-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia Grosbeaks and small mammals eat the seeds. Use by wildlife: It is an important browse species for deer, elk and other big game animals.

Use by natives: Natives used Douglas Maple for snowshoe frames. Lower branches may be layered to generate rooted cuttings Seeds and seedlings need to be protected from rodents, slugs and other herbivores. The seeds may also be scarified or soaked for 24 hours, then cold stratified at 40✯ (4✬) for 2-6 months. Germination occurs in late winter or spring. They are best sown as soon as they are ripe outside or in a cold frame.

Big leaf maple firewood