Burning vs rotting

AlbertC · May 4, 2015

We have come to the end of burn season where I live and I still have a rather large oak tree to dispose of. Tree was dead when I cut it down but it was still solid. Tree is about two ft in diameter and main trunk is about 30 ft long. I have cut the trunk into sections 4-5 ft in length.

If I want to burn I will have to wait until Oct 1st and I will also probably have to cut up the sections into smaller pieces in order to get a fire going. I have thought about just dumping the tree sections in a swampy area of my land and just let it rot. This area is about 400 ft from my home and can't be seen from the house.

Are there any disadvantages to doing this? Any ideas how long it would take a tree this size to rot? Normally, I don't like to just discard, I like to have things neat and tidy but I don't want to leave the tree laying around for six more months and it is more work to burn it as opposed to just dumping it and letting it rot.

Any opinions appreciated.

davesl708 · May 4, 2015

An oak of that size could take 10 years or more to rot. Is there no one in the area that would want it for firewood? I agree, letting it rot or burning in a burn pile is a waste. Might try and find someone to take it for firewood this summer and if not burn in the winter.

dusty3030 · May 4, 2015

Also, it will rot faster dry than wet. If it sits in water it will actually preserve it. In the dry termites and other organisms chow down on it breaking it down faster than if it were submerged.
Any neighbors have an outside fire pit and a splitter?

CobyRupert · May 4, 2015

No ideal on how long it takes to rot, however if sunk without access to oxygen, I've heard of 100 year old lumber (oak) brought up from lake bottoms to be salvaged, if that tells you anything. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=oak+lumber+from+lake+bottom+sunk

Previously I was looking to buy a chipper, as I get sick of moving brush, pilling it up and waiting for: 1)It to dry enough to burn, 2) timing with the rain/snow, and 3) waiting for the burn bay to expire (May 15th in NY).
There's been some good burn-vs-chip post threads here, mostly centered on what is the most "environmentalist" thing to do. (Diesel vs smoke, etc..) Granted, this is usually not a big concern on a tractor forum.
The conclusion I came to was burning will release the carbon all at once (just like the chips will slowly as they break down), but without the diesel fuel being burnt, or without the expense of the chipper, or the methane (even worse greenhouse gas) that rotting carbon (without oxygen) will create.

You could always put a (free) firewood add on Craigslist.

Looking4new · May 4, 2015

Why don't you use it for firewood for yourself? Or at the least sell it for firewood. Woodworkers would love to lay their hands on some good cheap oak.