Ok, my first attempt at pic posting here.
Attached are pics of an old tree that was lying in my woods. It looked to have been down so long (weather worn smooth, brush/saplings growing up in and around it, etc.) that I figured it wold just be all punked out, though the trunk was mostly off the ground, still supported by a few large limbs. Didn't really know what kind it was, etc. One day I was near it and grabbed one of the well weathered limbs and gave it a yank, expecting it to crumble and fall off. To my surprise it was strong and didn't break. So I cut into it and was surprised to find beautiful solid oak under a 1/2" to 1" layer of punkiness. I cut it up and ended up with a lot of nice oak firewood, I would say 1-2 face cords once c/s/s.
I am curious as to how long this might have been dead/down. The "stump" was pretty well rotted and gone so it seems like it had to be a long time. But the wood inside of the weathered layer was solid and nice. Smelled so good when I cut it! We've only lived here about 4 years, and the neighbors I talked to say its been decades since anyone cut back in there. I don't know whether it might be 10 years, or 50 years. Anyone with more woods experience care to hazard a guess as to how long something like this might have been dead and/or down? Thanks!
Attached are pics of an old tree that was lying in my woods. It looked to have been down so long (weather worn smooth, brush/saplings growing up in and around it, etc.) that I figured it wold just be all punked out, though the trunk was mostly off the ground, still supported by a few large limbs. Didn't really know what kind it was, etc. One day I was near it and grabbed one of the well weathered limbs and gave it a yank, expecting it to crumble and fall off. To my surprise it was strong and didn't break. So I cut into it and was surprised to find beautiful solid oak under a 1/2" to 1" layer of punkiness. I cut it up and ended up with a lot of nice oak firewood, I would say 1-2 face cords once c/s/s.
I am curious as to how long this might have been dead/down. The "stump" was pretty well rotted and gone so it seems like it had to be a long time. But the wood inside of the weathered layer was solid and nice. Smelled so good when I cut it! We've only lived here about 4 years, and the neighbors I talked to say its been decades since anyone cut back in there. I don't know whether it might be 10 years, or 50 years. Anyone with more woods experience care to hazard a guess as to how long something like this might have been dead and/or down? Thanks!