Cherry and Hickory...how long to season these hardwoods?

Cut, Split, Stacked, and Top covered: 1 year minimum for the Cherry and 1 1/2 minimum for the Hickory. The longer the better. Both are excellent for burning.

I'd say two years on hickory. I had a ton of it (three cords) a few years ago. It burned alright the first year but totally rocked the second.


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Most members can get Cherry ready in 8-12 months if not split large. The Hickory is much more dense and will need around 16 months +. But then again I'm just estimating.. There are many variables at play here.

It's worth more $$$ to people who smoke meats.

The Cherry could season well enough in less than a year, better in two (saved my butt a while ago with barely 8 months), but the Hickory will take much much longer. In my climate, I've found that Hickory takes at least as long as Oak, which is two years absolute minimum, preferably more. Once it is seasoned, however, the Hickory is a far superior wood, but beware, it doesn't take well to a slow burn, it's full speed or nothing, so don't fill a stove unless it's deepest winter.

TE

6 months or more on cherry for me
1.5 years for hickory/oak

Newburnerwisconsin said:

Just got access to cut about 2 face cords of cherry and a entire cord of hickory. Can anyone tell me how long I will need to season this wood before burning it? The trees are green and being removed for building project. I will also split and stack in full sun. I have not worked with two hardwoods before. thanks

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If you want to burn it sooner than later then split a little on the small side. If not split to the size you need and wait two years if you can. I agree the cherry will season quicker than the hickory but the bark on cherry gets soft and holds moisture and bugs more so than some other species. Top covering would help.

Split the hickory first and get it drying asap. Cherry will be good to go by next Oct. Maybe Jan/feb on the hickory. If you have other wood, use that first.
3/4 -1 yr Cherry
1 1/2 - 2 yrs Hickory

Shagbark burns fine for me one year split and stacked in an nc30. Had some 2 year and it burned a touch better. Dunno about cat stoves tho. Never had any cherry in the stove yet

jatoxico said:

I agree the cherry will season quicker than the hickory but the bark on cherry gets soft and holds moisture and bugs more so than some other species. Top covering would help.

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Yep. Cherry will definitely benefit from staying out of the rain.

I agree with the recommendations in the range of 1 year for cherry and 2 for hickory, but of course, that depends on your climate. Around here, two years is minimum for oak or hickory, but if it's not top covered, it will be sprouting mushrooms at the end of the first year. Catch-22.

By the way, those recommendations assume it's bucked, split, and stacked. If it's sitting in logs, it will take many, many years. Last month I bucked some oak logs that had been down for about 16 months and they were sopping wet, even the ones on top of the stack. The locust on the stack was sprouting!