K-State horticulture expert gives tips for choosing firewood
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Not all firewood is created equal.
That’s the word from Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini, who said the wood from some tree species produces more heat than others.
High on the list are red, bur and post oak species, which produce a heat value of 25 (measured in millions of British Thermal Units, or BTUs). In a list of many common types of firewood, Domenghini said only Osage Orange (32.6), honey locust (25.6) and black locust (28.3) rate higher than the oaks.
But, she adds, Osage Orange is not always the best choice due to its tendency to spark – “do not use in an open fireplace,” she said – and black locust can be difficult to split.
Many elm varieties and hackberry rate high (all around 20) but elm can be difficult to split, as well.
Domenghini said the Kansas Forest Service publication, Managing Your Woodland for Firewood, is a helpful resource for landowners interested in growing and harvesting firewood. The publication is available online.
For homeowners, Domenghini advises buying firewood locally to prevent spread of pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer, an exotic beetle that has devastated tens of millions of ash trees in 30 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Emerald Ash Borer has spread in Kansas primarily because of firewood,” she said.
Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.
Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions to [email protected], or contact your local K-State Extension office.
