do I need to get rounds off the ground before rott starts

[ctswf]

I had some maple trees cut down and cut in to rounds in may.
I still haven't got to splitting all of them yet. will they become rotty if they continue to sit all winter?

I split some last week and was surprised a number of them had ants in the core. not sure if that could have already been there before being cut down they looked healthy

 

[claydogg84]

Maple tends to rot faster than other hardwoods if left as you have it. I think you'll be ok through the winter, but I'd recommend getting them split up as soon as spring comes.

 

[711mhw]

Yeah, what claydogg said, and I bet you already had the ants. Some other species I have found that also is best to process without much delay is Beech and esp. Birch.

 

[ctswf]

ok thanks if I cant get to them soon maybe ill wedge sume sticks under them to at least get them out of the dirt

 

[KenLockett]

Yeah, what claydogg said, and I bet you already had the ants. Some other species I have found that also is best to process without much delay is Beech and esp. Birch.

Without a doubt Birch and Beech.

 

[ctswf]

I just split a cord of beech, im new to this but it was a difficult tree to split. hard heavy stringy and gnarly

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Well, ya ain't gotta split em but ya gotts ta git it offin da ground and onta palletts at least.

 

[DaveH]

I just got a free cord of split red maple. It had been sitting in a yard for a couple years and is starting to rot and became a sponge for moisture. If it had been off the ground it would have been bone dry and unlikely rotten. A year on the ground means more bugs and a layer of dirt from freezing to ground. It was free, seasoned, split and delivered wood so I can't complain but I'd get it off the ground as soon as you can.

 

[Paulywalnut]

If you can put them up on two by fours, try to lay them with bark up so you're looking at the round end, they will less likely start to rot.

 

[Woody Stover]

Soft Maple will go downhill quicker than Sugar. I would go ahead and split and stack now, if possible. That way it will be really dry by next fall. If not, at least get 'em off the ground as suggested.

 

[711mhw]

I just split a cord of beech, im new to this but it was a difficult tree to split. hard heavy stringy and gnarly

Lot's of BTU's in that Beech, PIA to process!

 

[Applesister]

If you are in CT you have plenty of time before it gets really nasty out.
If you don't want to mess with pallets at least stack the rounds, you may lose the bottom layer to some molds if you don't have something to lay them on. At the least, dont let them sit face down.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

Get a few skids and stack em on top. You'll be fine.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I
If you don't want to mess with pallets at least stack the rounds, you may lose the bottom layer to some molds if you don't have something to lay them on. At the least, dont let them sit face down.

Agreed, If you leave them with the cut ends on the ground they will wick moisture out of the soil and be sopping wet in no time.

Firewood and damp earth are never a good combination.

 

[Oldman47]

ok thanks if I cant get to them soon maybe ill wedge sume sticks under them to at least get them out of the dirt

Don't mess around with wedges. Lay down a couple of saplings on the ground and stack on top of them. The seedlings may turn into soil in a couple of years but they will keep your maple from direct contact.