Cut an Ash Tree Yesterday

[johnk]

The Emerald ash borer is killing a lot of trees in my area so I might as well start using the wood before it's too late.. Kubota worked out well as I was a 1 man work party.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well we didn't take any pictures but our day resembles yours plus or minus a quarter cord. Might as well make the best use of them before they rot.

 

[square1]

before it's too late

You're right, get them down before they go soft and get unpredictable. Ash doesn't take long to go punky once it's dead. I took one down this morning about that size. Tree snapped with over 2" of holding wood still in place. Heard the "crack" and I beat a path down my escape route. Tree & running saw ended up in the creek. Took me an hour to get the tree out. Pulled the plug on the saw, pulled it over a few times, put the plug back, primed it and she started right up

 

[vtsnowedin]

You're right, get them down before they go soft and get unpredictable. Ash doesn't take long to go punky once it's dead. I took one down this morning about that size. Tree snapped with over 2" of holding wood still in place. Heard the "crack" and I beat a path down my escape route. Tree & running saw ended up in the creek. Took me an hour to get the tree out. Pulled the plug on the saw, pulled it over a few times, put the plug back, primed it and she started right up

Oh , been there done that! Any day without a trip to the ER or the mortician is a good day. Had one fall ninety degrees to my plan today. No harm as there was plenty of room but I would like to improve my accuracy a lot as it will only take one sudden misdirection to close my book.

 

[johnk]

I used 3 wedges on the back cut and only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers. It fell where I wanted it. Ash is great firewood.

 

[skyhook]

I used 3 wedges on the back cut and only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers. It fell where I wanted it. Ash is great firewood.

Yes it is, you can burn it right away, no need for drying out.
I think it's the only one you can.

 

[square1]

only had 1 wedgie in my drwaers

BTDT

I've been taking ~10 full/federal cord a year for the last three years and I'm only 1/2 done cleaning them out. Sadly, the majority of what's left is getting pretty punky and I'm leaving a lot more of each tree in the woods to rot. They still have to come down though to keep them from falling on their own.

 

[AStanton]

Nice pics, John.
Kubota also work well on oak trees.

 

[johnk]

I'm trying to stay focused on my ash trees. Might as well use them while I can. I have plenty of 20-26 inch red oaks that are healthy as heck even after the onslaught of the Gypsy moth catapillars eating up the crowns last year.

 

[grnspot110]

I suspicion the Emerald Ash Borer is already in our area, although there are other bugs that look similar! I have plenty of various types of wood available; Ash, Oak's, Hackberry, Elms, Honey Locust, Walnut, Hickory & more. My problem is, I'm already 2-3 years ahead on my cut wood supply! Some of my Black Walnuts are dying, along with some of the Oaks. Farm is 30 miles from home, hope to bring some cut Pig (Bitternut) Hickory home tomorrow. ~~ Lowell