Protecting the stack....

[mwhitnee]

I just had trees cut down and am processing the wood. It's hickory, cherry, and maple. It's a LOT of wood, im past 6 cords already.

Some of the cherry had carpenter ants in it. Very few pieces but a lot of ants. I did my best to dispose of them.

Anyway, the stack is on the edge of my woods and i want to make sure it doesn't get infested. It was just cut down Saturday and I'm making good headway in stacking it, so it shouldn't be on the ground very long.

Is there a spray or something else i can use to keep the bugs at bay that is safe?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

 

[pen]

Nothing that I know of is recommend for use on firewood. I have split up lots of rounds to find ants in them. I just shake / tap them out and once the rounds are stacked to dry, they aren't interested in it anymore. It's the wet wood they are going to be after. Drying in a stack isn't going to be of interest to them.

If you want, save those pieces that concern you and put them right on the top of the stack so that they get the most air / sun / best drying.

 

[mwhitnee]

Thank you. I did spray some Ortho Home Defense all around the bottom, barely hit the wood. Nice thing is it's on pressure treated boards and I soaked them a little. Figure it couldn't hurt.

 

[Woody Stover]

Like pen says, stack it and soon the wood will be too dry and they will leave. They like stuff that's moist for their nests.

 

[ccmac]

You are doing a fine job of stacking! Any plans to space your stacks to permit just a bit more air movement? Or does your property limitations prevent it? That would be my only suggestion. I like that you stack your rows neatly and with obvious care.

 

[Dix]

Carpenter ants LOVE cherry .... split, it stack it, and they will move on. No need for chemicals.

Nice start of a stash !

 

[mwhitnee]

You are doing a fine job of stacking! Any plans to space your stacks to permit just a bit more air movement? Or does your property limitations prevent it? That would be my only suggestion. I like that you stack your rows neatly and with obvious care.

Thanks for the compliment. Space is a little limited where in want to put it yes. Good thing is i live across the street from a lake and it gets breezy often. I also cut some tree branches above the stack to get more sun.

 

[mwhitnee]

Carpenter ants LOVE cherry .... split, it stack it, and they will move on. No need for chemicals.

Nice start of a stash !

Yes there were many dying cherry trees i had cut down (last owner back filled the bases of them, wth). There were a couple knots with a lot of them in them, wow!

Ill be done splitting/stacking soon.