Products from dead or dying yard trees
What products can you get from dead or dying trees in your yard?
Every type of wood has its good points and its bad points. Elm dries quickly, making it good for firewood; red oak works well for interior cabinets or paneling; white oak, a rot-resistant wood, can be used for boats, posts, or outdoor construction.
Wood products you could make from your removed trees:
Firewood
Firewood is a common use of dead or dying trees. This is a good idea
if your trees are small, crooked, or you have leftover limbs and scraps
from making other wood products.
You should dry firewood before you use or sell it. Oak should be dried for two years because it looses moisture slowly. Elm needs to dry one year. The drier the wood the cleaner it burns.
NOTE: Firewood cut from fresh trees or trees recently infested by insects and disease can contribute to the spread of pests to nearby healthy trees. Because of this, many communities have ordinances to guide you in storing your firewood. If your community has no ordinances, treat your firewood by (1) removing the bark while the log is still green, or (2) cut the tree into firewood lengths and stack so both ends of the log are exposed to good air flow for faster drying. For fresh green wood from April 15 until July 1, totally cover the pile with heavy plastic (4-6 mil) taking care to bury the edges of the tarp with soil.
Oaks that died from oak wilt within the past year should not be moved, in any form, into areas where oak wilt is not found.
Fence Posts
You can make fence posts from white and bur oak. When you cut logs for
fence posts, include some heartwood (center wood). Heartwood resists rot
and your fence posts will last longer.
If the log is over 5 inches in diameter it should be split into halves?bigger material into thirds or quarters. Stack the logs loosely and dry them at least one year before using them. Wood dries faster in the summer and split wood dries faster than whole logs.
Red oak doesn't make a good fence post because it rots in the ground after a few years.
Saw logs
Saw logs are large logs that can be cut into lumber. They usually come
from the trunks of trees. The minimum size for a saw log is 8 inches in
diameter and 6 (sometimes 8) feet in length. Add an extra 3 to 5 inches
in length in case the end of the log cracks while it dries. You can paint
or wax the ends of the log to reduce cracking.
When you make your saw logs, cut off the limbs flush to the log. If the curve of the tree (sweep) is great or the tree is crooked, it won't make a good saw log.
You may be able to sell your saw logs?check with local sawmills or advertise in the newspaper.
Veneer logs are high quality saw logs, free of knots and other defects such as center rot. They should be 12 inches in diameter, and at least 8 feet long. Prepare them the same way you would a saw log.
Lumber
You will get the best return for your unwanted trees if you use them
to make your own lumber.
You can haul your logs to a sawmill or there are small, portable band sawmills that do custom sawing on location.
To air-dry your freshly sawn lumber, separate each layer of boards with stickers (one by ones, 4 feet in length). The stickers should be dried wood or they could stain your lumber. You should space the stickers every 2 feet, perpendicular to the lumber. Place the outside stickers as close to the ends of the lumber as possible and limit your pile to 4 feet wide. Store the lumber under a roof and air-dry it for two years, preferably on the south side of a hill or building.
