And to push the point... it's needs maybe three years AFTER it's split and stacked. Standing doesn't count. I've taken down water oaks that have been dead for at least two years. So dead that most of the crown had broken off and fallen to the ground. When I put Stihl to the trunk water oozed, almost flowed out. Love that water oak but it needs a long time in the stacks for optimum BTUs.