Lots of Poplar; Keep it or pass...

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kbrown

Feeling the Heat
Oct 19, 2008
297
SE, Michigan
So, I find out that my Dad is having some very large Poplar trees being taken down on his property; along with some maples. Growing up there, I know that these things are your typical Poplar tree - monsters. My Dad tells the tree service that he is keeping all the wood for me since we burn. Tree guy says that he should take the poplar since its junk. My question is, should he take it away? I know poplar isn't the best, but what's the opinion of others? I already have some poplar from his place due to storm damage and it seems that it starts to turn bad even when cut in rounds and stacked.
 
I think if you split, stack and cover soon after cutting it will last a lot longer.
 
In Mi. I would Pass...
 
Last year I burned almost exclusively (Tulip) Poplar. As you mentioned, it's not the greatest, but it splits really easily, seasons quickly, and burns fairly hot. The problem is that it doesn't burn very long. With a packed stove you get 2-3 of good burn then 1-2 of decent coaling. So not the best for the coldest months but not bad for shoulder season. I used it all season last year because that's all I had, but on the cold days I was doing a lot of reloads. So I guess the real answer is, it depend. As far as lasting, as long as it's split and off the ground, there's no reason it shouldn't last a while.
 
I doubt that the OP is talking about tulip poplar.

Take it or not? If you need wood, take it. If you have plenty of the better wood then I'd let the tree service take it.

If you do take it, get it split soon and in the stack. That way it will last a good length of time. It is best burned during the daylight hours and especially during spring and fall. It also can make decent kindling. It also tends to give you a few extra ash but no coaling.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
I doubt that the OP is talking about tulip poplar.

Take it or not? If you need wood, take it. If you have plenty of the better wood then I'd let the tree service take it.

If you do take it, get it split soon and in the stack. That way it will last a good length of time. It is best burned during the daylight hours and especially during spring and fall. It also can make decent kindling. It also tends to give you a few extra ash but no coaling.

Yea, it's not tulip - at least I don't think so. These trees are about 70' tall and 36"+ diameter. Quite a bit of wood; I am starting to think that just leaving one good size tree will be enough for a few years of shoulder season. Space here at home is limited and even though I could probably split and stack it there, that's a lot of work to haul it back here and re-stack stuff that isn't oak or maple.
 
I wouldn't want to deal with that big of a round for poplar, but if you need the wood.... The tree service must sell the lumber for pallets or something or they probably
wouldn't be trying to talk you into taking it.
 
How close are you? Indeed it burns hot and fast....but it is free BTUs. Since I love to load the stove, burning poplar so long as I am home is not an issue. If you have harder wood...they will keep you overnight. But if you can feed the stove at night / weekends...then poplar is fine even in the coldest months. Just more work...but it splits easy and seasons fast. One note - it gets punky in a year if left in the round...so split it and get it off the ground...it will last three years easy.

If it is not far...I would take it. But I am a wood hoarder as defined by my wife...
 
eujamfh said:
How close are you? Indeed it burns hot and fast....but it is free BTUs. Since I love to load the stove, burning poplar so long as I am home is not an issue. If you have harder wood...they will keep you overnight. But if you can feed the stove at night / weekends...then poplar is fine even in the coldest months. Just more work...but it splits easy and seasons fast. One note - it gets punky in a year if left in the round...so split it and get it off the ground...it will last three years easy.

If it is not far...I would take it. But I am a wood hoarder as defined by my wife...

It's about a 45min drive; but it's also my parents home, so we would be going there anyhow. I was thinking about throwing the splitter on a trailer and then just make a couple days (or more!) work if I do. I too am a wood junkie and just can't allow such an easy score to go to waste, unless it was box elder! LOL We have a couple other friends that burn, so maybe I will see if they are interested too.
 
Well...from someone that will burn anything and scrounge as much...my vote would be take it. it certainly will save your Dad some money since hauling it will cost some money...
 
Tulip Poplar has very tall bole (or trunk) section, other Poplars have branches closer to the ground. All the Poplars around here are of the Tulip variety, I'm thinking either would be possible in southeastern Michigan.
 
OK, I feel really stupid. The majority are male cottonwoods - which don't give off that crap each spring! So, now how does the group feel about this?
 
Refer to post #7. Free heat is just that. I wouldnt pack and bother with a splitter since it busts like its kiln dried. But I do things differenly than most here.
 
heatit said:
OK, I feel really stupid. The majority are male cottonwoods - which don't give off that crap each spring! So, now how does the group feel about this?
Even lower BTU than Yellow (Tulip) Poplar. That's about all I know, never having burned it...
 
I'd pass unless thats all you can find.
 
I'd take it. You're going to be there anyway, your Dad is trying to help you out, and it will burn. Cottonwood is rather low BTU firewood, but it is firewood.

Tulip Poplar is nice wood, in my opinion, not related at all to cottonwood/poplar/aspens; only the name is the same.
 
heatit said:
OK, I feel really stupid. The majority are male cottonwoods - which don't give off that crap each spring! So, now how does the group feel about this?

So, is it cottonwood or popple? Big difference. I did wonder when you stated they are monsters because popple just doesn't get very big around here before it dies. On the other hand, cottonwood can really get big.

Also, I'd still take box elder over popple or cottonwood.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
heatit said:
OK, I feel really stupid. The majority are male cottonwoods - which don't give off that crap each spring! So, now how does the group feel about this?

So, is it cottonwood or popple? Big difference. I did wonder when you stated they are monsters because popple just doesn't get very big around here before it dies. On the other hand, cottonwood can really get big.

Also, I'd still take box elder over popple or cottonwood.

It's cottonwood. It's not that we "need" the wood, but I'm thinking about what will we be able to scrounge in the next couple of years. But, still being new to all this - we have only been burning for about 3 years now - I see trees like a cottonwood and think just how much damn wood is in one of those. However, what I'm hearing from the experienced guys here is that looks are deceiving; lots of wood, but you get a better bang for the buck - or in this case, labor - with a couple of maples and just let the cottonwood take up someones dump. I can only keep about 6 cords on my property and even if I managed to split and stack cottonwood somewhere else, chances are it will not be worth the time and effort if you don't use it in a year or two at most. If thats the case, I would rather pass.
 
Cottonwood can grow to some big sizes for sure. That is Mrs. Backwoods-Savage in the pictures.

Cottonwood-Judy.jpg


Cottonwood-Judy-2.jpg
 
im debating the same thing..neighbor has a poplar and wants me to take it down.......just dont know if i want to put the time and work into the poplar........
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Cottonwood can grow to some big sizes for sure. That is Mrs. Backwoods-Savage in the pictures.

Cottonwood-Judy.jpg


Cottonwood-Judy-2.jpg
WOW! Looks like they just took it down with one cut. I am always amazed at the size of these things but how soft they really are. Certainly wouldn't want one close to my house; they drop limbs way to easy.
 
heatit said:
So, I find out that my Dad is having some very large Poplar trees being taken down on his property; along with some maples. Growing up there, I know that these things are your typical Poplar tree - monsters. My Dad tells the tree service that he is keeping all the wood for me since we burn. Tree guy says that he should take the poplar since its junk. My question is, should he take it away? I know poplar isn't the best, but what's the opinion of others? I already have some poplar from his place due to storm damage and it seems that it starts to turn bad even when cut in rounds and stacked.

There's only two kinds of trees I won't cut up and haul away. Poplar/cottonwood is one of them.
 
An old timer I met grew up on a tree farm in Maine.She said her dad raised poplar trees.They grow fast and large and her dad would sell them to the paper mills.So maybe your tree cutters will take yours to a paper mill.
I'm splitting up a 70 foot poplar which came down in my yard last winter.I've burned the dead branches which fell from the tree from time to time and they burn hot and fast.It should make good heat this October.It'll be interesting to see how the splits burn since in the past all I had was branches to burn which did well.So burn it and don't touch the harder wood until you need to.
 
I'll cut cottonwood, poplar, & box elder...................... as long as I'm getting paid. A C
 
Backwoods Savage said:
I doubt that the OP is talking about tulip poplar.

Take it or not? If you need wood, take it. If you have plenty of the better wood then I'd let the tree service take it.

If you do take it, get it split soon and in the stack. That way it will last a good length of time. It is best burned during the daylight hours and especially during spring and fall. It also can make decent kindling. It also tends to give you a few extra ash but no coaling.

+1 . . . I have access to all sorts of wood and will burn poplar . . . but typically I only cut it if it's in my way as Dennis says it doesn't coal well and is best used for shoulder season burning. Not my favorite wood . . . but if you need wood it's not a bad thing to have . . . burn this wood up first and last . . . save the good wood for the truly cold winter season.
 
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